The long-awaited rail link in Skelmersdale has been given a major boost after Lancashire County Council have approved the acquisition of the former Skelmersdale College site.
£2million has also been allocated to demolish the former Skelmersdale College buildings and cover any additional costs of preparing the location. This brings all the required land together for the train station, parking and retail development. In addition to the current work already being carried out by West Lancashire Borough Council and partners.
LCC in partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have been progressing the Skelmersdale Rail Link and town centre railway station through Network Rail’s Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process for a number of years, supported by Network Rail and consultants.
A strategic outline of the business case for the entire development has been funded by the county council and should be finished by the end of this year. The Government will then have to make the decision to move forward to the development stage, when funding would be agreed and the authorities would work with Transport for the North.