ST HELENS town centre has been given a major boost by a report which predicts it is set to extend its position as one of the major shopping destinations in the region.

Town Centres 2000, by international property advisers GVA Grimley in conjunction with the Association of Town Centre Management, examines towns from the point of view of retailers and property investors and says that the St Helens town centre management scheme is playing an important role in developing a greater shopping choice in the town.

Chris Renshaw, of GVA Grimley, said: "St Helens has a strong retail base, which needs to be built upon to maintain the town's position as a regional shopping centre.

"It has withstood the growth in out-of-town retail centres and with the level of investment that is happening in the town, with the new leisure attractions, it should eventually see benefits in the retail sector as there will be more people visiting the town. This will, in turn, encourage new retailers to consider St Helens.

"The formation of the St Helens Town Partnership two years ago, and the appointment of a town centre manager, was timely and has already had an impact in the town. As more businesses from the private sector join, so it will strengthen the town's appeal to prospective retailers."

He added: "Although the town centre management scheme is relatively new, St Helens is recognised as having one of the most pro-active town centre management schemes in the region. As the scheme moves forward the town should have no problems in attracting more retailers."

Town centre manager Jacquie Reilly, said: "In the last two years, with the support of the Partnership, we have already made a number of moves to enhance the town centre to be more attractive to retailers. This work will continue and, as the report highlights, improvements to key areas of the town and to the car parks should be priorities. The Partnership has already started to address these issues so I can see an extremely bright future for St Helens town centre."