Concern has been raised at the almost £1m estimated cost of rebuilding four small shops destroyed by an arson attack.
The units in Wythburn Crescent, St Helens, were set alight in the early hours of November 1, 2018, after what Merseyside Police described as a "botched burglary attempt".
The fire led to the demolition of the units, which had previously housed takeaways, a post office and a hair salon.
