Developer Network Space has submitted a full planning application for Project Halo—a high-tech employment development at the St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus.

Located on a five-acre site off the A570 James Roby Way, the scheme proposes four state-of-the-art 'Tech Box' units designed to support life science and advanced manufacturing businesses. The development forms a key part of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone, which aims to drive innovation and create high-value jobs across the region.

The application follows the site's acquisition by St Helens Borough Council, supported by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and Network Space’s appointment as development manager in 2023. The company previously collaborated with the Council to deliver the £54 million Glass Futures facility, a global centre of excellence for sustainable glass innovation located next door.

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Extensive enabling works, carried out by NSD, have already been completed, including ground remediation, re-profiling, and the construction of a new estate road and roundabout at Langtree Way. These improvements have primed the location for immediate development, enhancing links to surrounding innovation assets.

The submitted plans seek approval for four hybrid industrial and office buildings ranging from 7,629 to 31,484 sq. ft, totalling 85,000 sq. ft of flexible employment space. The high-spec units will cater to occupiers across use classes B2 (advanced manufacturing), B8 (storage/distribution), and E(g) (including R&D labs and professional services). Each unit has been designed for adaptability, allowing tailored configurations for tenants’ specific office and laboratory needs.

Sustainability is at the core of the Project Halo design, with features such as air source heat pumps, rooftop photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points, and cycle facilities. The scheme will aim for BREEAM 'Outstanding' accreditation, underlining its commitment to environmental performance and sustainable development.

Project Halo is intended to attract synergistic life sciences and advanced manufacturing occupiers, reinforcing St Helens' status as a growing centre for innovation. It supports the Liverpool City Region’s Life Sciences Innovation Zone Prospectus, which targets the creation of 8,000 jobs and £800 million in investment over the next decade.

The St Helens Campus—already home to Glass Futures, SINA Medical Glass, and Inovus Medical, is emerging as a focal point for materials science and health technologies, complementing wider regional strengths in infectious disease research and AI-driven healthcare.