Boat tours and waterways which could attract 'millions' of visitors to Runcorn, a £2m youth hub and an affordable housing project were just some of the schemes the town's MP was updated on when he was given a tour of the town centre recently.

Work on eight different projects across the Old Town is now well underway following the award of £23.6m from the previous government’s Town Deal.

A new youth centre, canal connectivity, Brindley enhancements and over 55s accommodation are among the projects being worked on, and Runcorn and Helsby MP Mike Amesbury recently met with representatives of each scheme to hear more about their progress.

Work undertaken so far includes:

  • Structures being put in place at the High Street new homes scheme with Halton Housing.  The project will provide 66 properties for the over 55s.
  • Unlock Runcorn - a local charity which works for the reinstatement of a link between the Bridgewater canal and the Manchester Ship Canal as a catalyst for regeneration in the town - began an archaeological excavation to expose some of the original canal structures.
  • Construction has begun at Youthy.com, a £2m youth facility on High Street.
  • Work has started on the £9.5m Brindley Theatre enhancement project. The extension will include a large café-restaurant, relocated library and a civic space on the Brindley green.
  • Work has also been completed at the new peace garden at the Buddhist Temple.

The various project will be delivered by the Runcorn Town Investment Plan, and has been in progress since July 2021.

Halton Housing project manager Ria Griffiths and MP Mike Amesbury outside the High Street New Homes Development.Halton Housing project manager Ria Griffiths and MP Mike Amesbury outside the High Street New Homes Development. (Image: PR)

A few days before construction began on site at the new Youth centre ‘Youthy.com’, Claire Bradbury - the CEO of Power in Partnership which will run the facility - talked Mike through the plans as it embarks on around 18 months of construction work.

She said: "This centre is being built with the young people of Runcorn and the wider community truly at the heart of the plans." She said apprentices would also be employed to work on the scheme. She added: "We want to engage with the young people and give them options and skills when they hit 16."

Mike said: "This project is a great example of powering up people. The passion shines through, of course this is going to be the best-in-class facility."

Unlock Runcorn's work aims to extend the canal by 70 metres, which will allow moorings for the charity to run visitor boat trips.

Graham Wallace, the Chair of the Runcorn Locks Restoration Society, said: "This will bring millions of people to Runcorn as they have something spectacular to see."

In September, work was completed on the peace garden. With over 700 plants in the garden surrounding the bronzed Chedi statue, it was the first project of its kind in the Northwest. Since its arrival from Thailand in July the statue has been installed. Temple trustee Tony Collacott, said: "It is fast becoming one of the most photographed objects in Runcorn” according to temple trustee Tony Collacott."