WORK has started on a 39-home development and 'community hub' on land where the Triplex social club once stood at Eccleston.

Locals were upset when the club closed in November 2012 and was demolished when earlier planning consent for development on the site was conditional on the club being refurbished.

But buying the club under vacant possession made that agreement void.

Now the Emerson Group is developing Eccleston Grange on the Triplex site with plans to build a ‘community hub’ alongside a new housing estate.

The development will include a new Sainsbury's Local – the food chain’s first store in the borough, plus a GPs surgery, pharmacy and vets.

Leader of St Helens Council, Barrie Grunewald said: “With its mix of housing and community facilities this is a welcome addition to the borough’s growing housing and development portfolio bringing more local facilities to our communities.”