Three major retail brands will be opening new stores in spring 2022 as the re-development of a town centre moves a step closer to completion. 

Significant progress has been made on the Tawd Valley Centre, a new town centre for Skelmersdale with buildings now transforming the site, as well as news that Lidl and B&M Bargains will be opening stores in the area.

The process of bringing in essential services will begin this month with contractors diverting the water supply to the site and installing a six metre deep manhole for the highway drainage, while 180 metres of retaining wall have also been constructed.

Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, Councillor Ian Moran, said: "This is fantastic news for Skelmersdale with real progress being made on the town centre plans.

"As both a councillor and a resident, I know how significant seeing this progress is for those who live and work in Skelmersdale and its importance for West Lancashire's future as a whole cannot be overestimated.

"Over the coming months I'm really looking forward to seeing the new town centre take shape.

"The Council will be working hard to keep up this momentum as we continue to move forward with the development."

Major retail brands Lidl and B&M Bargains are already on board with stores opening in the spring, with talks with a third retailer in their later stages.

The area adjacent to the retail park will be upgraded to include a new play area in Tawd Valley Park and a new high street will be provided to link West Lancashire College with the rest of the town centre.

Improvements will also be made to the public areas outside Skelmersdale Library to make them more attractive spaces for residents to enjoy.

The town centre redevelopment scheme is a partnership between the Borough Council and developer St. Modwen and is supported by the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership and Growth Deal Funding. Construction partners for the project are Caddick Construction.

Development director at St. Modwen, Alexander Jaques, said: “It’s fantastic to see so much progress being made in the town centre.

"As we continue with this significant build phase we will start to see a real transformation of the site, paving the way for the new retail and public spaces that the residents of Skelmersdale are so eagerly awaiting.”

North West managing director of Caddick Construction, Ian Threadgold, added: “Caddick is delighted to be working on this scheme that will have a transformative effect on Skelmersdale town centre and the surrounding communities.

"It is great to see investment coming back into town centres and local residents will continue to see the development taking shape, with the new retailers opening their doors in the spring of 2022."