St Modwen Properties has been selected as developer for the £100m Skelmersdale town centre project by English Partnerships and West Lancashire District Council

St Modwen will draw up a masterplan for a mixed-use development of homes, shops, leisure facilities and offices in line with the Skelmersdale Vision strategy plan. Construction is expected to start on site in 2008

Neil Clarke, senior regeneration manager at English Partnerships, said: ‘Skelmersdale has a great deal to offer, ideally situated between Liverpool and Manchester.’

Bill Oliver, chief executive of St Modwen, said: ‘This is a major opportunity to achieve a transformational change for the town by radically strengthening its role from a retail, leisure and residential perspective.’