WHISTON WOODS UPDATE
Planning permission for a change of use to a cemetery and associated infrastructure works was submitted to St Helens Council in February 2025 and granted on 24th December 2025. Planning permission for the creation of vehicular entrances from Cumber Lane into the site of Whiston Woods was submitted to Knowsley Council in February 2025 and was granted on the 12th December 2025.
The approvals triggered the next step in the sale contract, which means that the Council purchased Whiston Woods from Forestry England on 29 January 2026. The site is now owned by Knowsley Council and under the management of the Environmental Sustainability Service within the Council. Over the coming weeks new signage, noticeboards and bins will be installed at the site, and a maintenance regime will be put in place in line with the management of other semi-natural sites across the Borough.
Any issues, queries or questions relating to the site, such as fly tipping and anti-social behaviour should be directed to Knowsley Council via the main contact routes or via ess.enquiries@knowley.gov.uk or via 0151 443 3682.
It is not anticipated that development of the cemetery extension will begin until later this year, however there will be some ground investigations and surveys undertaken this summer and we will provide updates, per our standard practice to ward members in advance of these works.
If you have any questions, please do get in touch.
Email received 12/5/2026
Works to allow us to monitor the ground water conditions at Whiston Woods will start on site tomorrow following the completion of preliminary ecological checks on site.
The specialist operation will support an application for an Environmental Permit under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 necessary for the operation of the forthcoming cemetery at the site and will include drilling machinery at the site and involves digging several trial holes to monitor the ground water conditions at the site over a period of time. The works will take about one week to complete.
The site will remain open whilst the works are taking place however some parts of the site will be cordoned off to allow works to take place safely. We will also place some notices up on site to let site users know about the works.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to give me a call but I thought I would let you know in case you get any queries. This information will also be going out on social media so that may generate some interest too.