St Helens town centre is undergoing a bold transformation — and at the heart of that journey is connectivity. With support from a £2.5 million grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, St Helens Borough Council’s Digital Infrastructure Project is laying the foundations to become one of the smartest, best-connected boroughs in the Liverpool City Region.
This ambitious initiative is a key part of the wider Town Deal regeneration programme, aimed at revitalising St Helens town centre, attracting fresh investment, and future-proofing the local economy through fast, inclusive digital infrastructure.
And guiding the delivery of this complex programme is CJ Founds Associates, the council’s Programme Management Consultants, helping turn this vision into reality.
Why Connectivity is Central to Regeneration
For too long, the town centre has struggled with poor broadband speeds, patchy mobile coverage, and a lack of investment from major telecoms providers. Now, St Helens Borough Council is stepping in with a proactive approach — delivering ultrafast full fibre infrastructure to connect every shop, business, and many nearby homes.
This is far more than just a technical upgrade — it’s a digital lifeline, powering the town’s economic and social future.
Powering Growth, Attracting Investment
The full fibre network is expected to bring transformational benefits to the local economy, making businesses more competitive, more innovative, and more resilient. By adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI, cloud computing, and digital services, even modest improvements in connectivity could unlock over £10 million in economic uplift — with individual businesses saving upwards of £5,000 per year in improved efficiency.
The new network will serve all Town Deal investment sites, including:
- A new mixed-use development at the former Hardshaw Shopping Centre site, featuring 64 high quality homes, new market hall, 11,000 sq ft of modern retail space and a new 120-guest room Hampton by Hilton St Helens hotel
- The modernised St Helens Transport Interchange
- The new Youth Zone at the iconic 129-year-old Gamble Building
These sites are being hardwired into St Helens’ digital future — creating connected spaces where innovation, enterprise, and community can thrive.
People Behind the Progress: Hayley O’Brien, CJ Founds Associates
At the heart of delivering this complex programme is Hayley O’Brien, Programme Lead at CJ Founds Associates. Since joining the company three years ago, Hayley has played a pivotal role in shaping and managing the delivery of St Helens’ Digital Connectivity Programme.
Though naturally camera-shy, Hayley recently stepped out of her comfort zone to take part in filmed interviews and a professional photo shoot to promote the project. Her commitment, organisational skill, and behind-the-scenes leadership have been essential to keeping this fast-moving programme on track.
CJ Founds Associates has been instrumental in managing the coordination between the Council, suppliers like Elevate, and community stakeholders — ensuring that every element, from design to deployment, is aligned with the Council’s regeneration ambitions.
Social Inclusion and Skills for the Future
This investment isn’t just about business — it’s about people. The council and its partners are committed to ensuring everyone in St Helens town centre has the digital confidence and connectivity they need to participate in modern life.
Key social inclusion measures include:
- Delivery of a lifetime connection to local charities
- Affordable social tariffs, and over half a million in social value contributions from Elevate
- Support for digital skills development and community outreach
Elevate is also working closely with local community groups to help address digital exclusion and ensure residents and businesses are at the heart of this transformation.
A Future-Ready, Smart Town Centre
The new digital infrastructure underpins the future of the town centre — enabling:
- A digitally-enabled council, delivering modern, accessible public services
- Advanced Tech-Enabled Care models for vulnerable residents
- The creation of smart places and smart streets
- Improved mobile coverage and free public Wi-Fi in key areas
With strategic oversight from the council’s Smart Borough Board, St Helens is taking a joined-up, innovative approach to ensure that digital infrastructure supports regeneration, inclusion, and long-term sustainability.
Inclusive by Design
From day one, this rollout has been designed with inclusivity at its core. The full fibre network aims to pass at least 85% of all town centre premises, using a “dig-once” approach to minimise disruption and align with other infrastructure works.
By working closely with Elevate and the local community, the council is ensuring connections are not only technically feasible, but also accessible and affordable. This includes connecting public buildings, community assets, and areas of social and economic vulnerability.
Looking Ahead: A More Connected, More Confident Borough
The St Helens Digital Infrastructure Programme is more than a technical project — it’s a cornerstone of the borough’s regeneration strategy. By embedding connectivity into the physical and digital fabric of the town, we’re building a place where businesses can grow, residents can thrive, and innovation can flourish.
Thanks to the partnership between St Helens Borough Council, CJ Founds Associates, and delivery partners like Elevate, this programme is paving the way toward a smarter, more inclusive future — where no one is left behind.
And behind every cable laid and every connection made, there are people like Hayley O’Brien, quietly making it all happen.
