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Southport Town Deal

Sefton approves major economic boost for flagship towns

1 October 2020
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Bootle Strand, Front Page, Latest News, Southport Town Deal

Sefton Council have acted to further secure and improve the economic future of two flagship towns in the borough.

At a meeting of the local authority’s cabinet today (Thursday, October 1) plans were firmly set in place to help establish future economic success for both Southport and Bootle.

Sefton Council’s Cabinet this morning approved £650,000 of Combined Authority funding for its plans to redevelop the Strand shopping centre and Bootle town centre, while it was agreed that the council will be the accountable body for the Southport Town Deal ahead of its £25 million bid for government funding later this month.

Chaired by Rob Fletcher of Fletcher’s Solicitors, Southport’s Town Deal Board has been meeting monthly since January 2020 with the purpose to develop and agree a Town Investment Plan, which includes extensive conversations and consultation with Southport’s residents, business owners, visitors and young people. Despite the pandemic the process saw more than 2,000 consultation responses and more than 5,000 total engagements.

In addition, recently over 700 children from schools across Southport gave their vital feedback and what they see as challenges and opportunities for the future of the town.

While in Bootle the approval of the £650,000 will be used to clear and make good the land adjacent to the Strand and the adjacent Leeds Liverpool Canal.

This work is the first stage of plans to re-animate the town centre by bringing interim uses to the currently unused areas in and around the Strand, which the Council sees as a cornerstone of Bootle town centre’s regeneration.

A partnering arrangement with the Canals and Rivers Trust would also integrate the site with the canal to enable it to be brought fully back into use and provide a possible ‘waterway link’ to Bramley Moore Dock in advance of the proposed new Everton FC stadium.

Both schemes will play a major role in economic recovery of Sefton from the impacts of COVID-19.

Welcoming the news of funding to support the council’s regeneration of Bootle, Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We have already started engaging with local people and businesses in Bootle as well as other stakeholders to shape the details of proposed interim uses.

“This engagement includes the Bootle Festival of Ideas which was launched at the beginning of September.

“This funding is the first stage in making possible the exciting ‘Meanwhile Uses’ we have planned for The Strand and Bootle town centre.

“The interim plans will transform the space in the short term while we continue to develop our ambitious, long-term plans for Bootle, which include attracting new private sector investment to create a town centre that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.”

Speaking following the agreement on the Southport Town Deal, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills and Town Deal Board member said: “Agreeing and securing a Town Deal in the coming months offers a real opportunity to boost Southport’s economy following months of COVID-19 induced economic uncertainty.

“It brings with it the benefits of increased jobs, different training opportunities, a strengthened visitor proposition that builds on the pride and passion that our residents have for Southport. Our Town Deal proposal will include exciting projects and opportunities that are not visible in any other town, or any other bid.”

Southport Town Deal Board Chair Rob Fletcher added: “The partnership approach of the Town Deal Board has been wonderful to see.

“I would like to extend a huge thank you to all those people who have taken the time to respond to the online questionnaire or leave a comment on social media. I would in particular like to thank all the teachers and pupils from right across the town, who have taken real care and time to come up with some wonderful and thoughtful suggestions for the future of their home.

“I will be writing back to each school in the coming weeks to share my thanks and feedback on behalf of the board, as this is a conversation that we would like to continue beyond our October submission date.”

For more information about the Southport Town Deal please visit www.sefton.gov.uk/southport2020.

Exciting plans to transform Southport Market

25 August 2020
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Southport Town Deal

Exciting plans to transform Southport Market into a unique food and drink offer are set to be presented to Sefton Council’s formal Cabinet next week (Thursday, September 3).

The report will recommend the incredible £1.4 million redesign and refurbishment of the town centre market site, creating a modern food and drinks space, along with a flexible events and market area.

The new look market will be an all year round attraction with space for up to eight delicious food and drinks units, providing a vital boost to the local economy and continued regeneration of Southport’s market quarter and King Street.

Units will also be available for fresh produce stalls, including the popular Blackhurst Butchers, with all traders being offered turnover rental agreements to ensure low risk to their business.

Funding for the project has already been successfully secured from both the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Southport Town Deal acceleration fund.

If the plans are approved by Cabinet, it is hoped work will begin on the exciting project in late 2020.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, welcomed the latest stage of the project, saying: “We know just how much of an important asset Southport Market is to the town.

“This ambitious and exciting project is a cornerstone of what the Southport Town Deal is all about and securing additional external funding to completely transform the building shows real commitment from Sefton Council.

“We fully understand the impact consumer habits and demand has on historical indoor markets and there is a clear need to ensure this impressive venue evolves into a modern and stunning food and drinks space.

“This project will create fantastic opportunities for new business start ups and job creation, and we have shown our full commitment to helping these businesses to grow by implementing a turnover rental model.

“We are extremely excited to see the project progress even further and we have been delighted at the wealth of positive feedback and support we have received from residents and businesses so far for this transformation.”

Due to an already high demand from prospective new food operators and fresh produce businesses, all potential traders should contact tourism@sefton.gov.uk to find out more information.

Southport Market transformation given £1 million boost

30 July 2020
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Southport Town Deal

The transformation of Southport Market into a social space to enjoy food, drink and markets is one step closer to reality with the Governments Acceleration Grant announcement

The resort has been awarded a £1million grant from central Government’s Town Deal Fund, which is designed to go towards capital development projects.

This funding will complement the work which is well underway on a comprehensive bid by the Southport Town Deal board for a larger grant of £25 million from the fund.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, says:
“This is a very welcome grant and helps us in our long term vision for Southport.

“We have been working extremely hard on plans for Southport Market as part of our Southport masterplan for some time, recognising how important such a social space would be to the local economic and tourism sector.

“It will bring a market culture experience to the town that some cities across the UK have successfully introduced already and which European towns and cities have become celebrated for. It also continues to show Sefton Councils commitment to Southport providing further opportunities to support independent businesses”

Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Southport Town Deal board, welcomed the news, saying:
“We have been working incredibly hard to try and make our ambitions a reality and we are in a fantastic position ahead of us submitting full plans for a £25million bid later this year.

“Our plans can now move forward at pace with Southport Market being the key focus, with £900,000 of the grant allocated to this project.

“The remaining £100,000 will be used to transform the Lord Street tree lights working in partnership with Southport Business Improvement District (BID) to ensure our beautiful boulevard is bathed in the very best light.”

Mark Lawler, Managing Director of Baltic Creative and member of the Southport Town Deal Board, echoed these sentiments.

Mark said: “We recognise how important this kind of investment can be for giving a kick start for further growth throughout the resort, as well as having the potential to spark further enhancement of the area surrounding the market.

“As a seaside town that is renowned for its great food and drink offer we think that this will be the perfect complement to Southport’s already impressive social offer, which is already recognised for championing independent businesses.”

The Southport Market project business case will now go to Cabinet and Council for approval in September, with a view to ensuring completion of the project by the end of the financial year, in accordance with the conditions of the grant.

For further information and to have your say on the Southport Town Deal, visit www.sefton.gov.uk/southport2020

Vision for a world-class theatre and conference centre in Southport revealed

17 July 2020
Jo Dwyer
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Southport, Southport Town Deal, Your Sefton

Vision for a world-class theatre and conference centre revealed

New state-of-the-art venue planned to replace Southport Theatre and Convention Centre

 Sefton Council has today (17 July 2020) released plans outlining its ambitious vision for a brand new world-class theatre and conference centre on Southport waterfront.  The new state-of-the-art venue would sit on the edge of Marine Lake and replace the current Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.

CGI of how the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre could look

 

The waterfront is a key area in the town and an important part of what makes Southport an all-year round destination for visitors, with its further potential as part of a comprehensive redevelopment also recognised.  The plans for a new theatre and conference centre highlight Sefton Council’s commitment to investing in the future of Southport as a leading destination.

Cllr Ian Maher, Labour Leader at Sefton Council, says, “This project is a real game changer for Southport and The City Region and showcases a bright future for the town.  We understand the valuable role that having a theatre and conference centre plays and we want to ensure that Southport is on the map for having one of the best in the region, if not the whole county.

“This site offers a stunning location so, if we can match this with world-class facilities, we’ll be able to ensure that national and regional conferences visit Southport as well as giving us the opportunity to secure leading theatre shows; all of which bring additional investment and footfall into the town.  Having such an ambitious project in our sights is also an important part of how we’ll be trying to achieve an uplift for the local economy, as we all work in partnership to overcome the impact of Covid-19.  Furthermore, the new venue will play an instrumental and leading part in the wider regeneration of the waterfront area.”

A feasibility and design study has been commissioned for the new theatre and conference centre by Sefton Council as part of its commitment to investment and growth within the Borough.  The study evaluates a range of options including minor renovation works, as well as the ambitious vision, which may comprise either a full new build, or partial new build with retention of the Floral Hall. The work is being led by IPW who are experts in venues and facilities and supported by global architects HOK.

CGI of the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre from Marine Way Bridge

Southport’s Town Deal Board is supportive of the project, which could be integral to the Southport Town Deal bid.  The Town Deal centres on bringing into reality the master plan that has been created for Southport, which is being led by Southport Town Deal Board; made up of public and private industry leaders.  Later this year a bid of up to £25million will be made to central Government to support the delivery of this master plan. While consultation on the specific project will take place in due course, residents are encouraged to share their early perspectives, including on the range of options above, via the Town Deal consultation process at: https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/futuresouthport/

The existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre remains closed at the moment due to the Government guidance for all theatres following the Covid-19 outbreak across the UK.  The previous operator, Bliss Space (Southport) Ltd, went into liquidation in May.  However, Sefton Council is committed to the venue in the short term as well as the long term, and will reopen the site when it is safe and viable to do so.  Further work to finalise the exciting plans for the new theatre and conference centre in more detail will take place over the summer.

CGI of the Lakeside

Local residents and businesses invited to help shape the vision for Southport’s future

30 June 2020
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Southport Town Deal, Uncategorized

A consultation is to be launched next week (Monday 29th June) on a future vision for Southport. The consultation is part of the first stage of the Towns Deal, which was launched by the Government last year. As part of the Towns Deal, Southport is one of just 100 towns across the country invited to bid for a share of the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Deals Fund.

Since November 2019 a number of conversations have taken place with local residents and businesses to discuss how that money might be spent if the bid is successful. Over a thousand items of initial feedback have been gathered from the Government’s #MyTown campaign, interviews with representatives of local groups and surveys completed by social media users. This feedback has helped to shape a number of ‘Big Ideas’ that will feed into the Southport Town Investment Plan, a document that will become the first stage in the process of securing a Town Deal.

Work on the Town Investment Plan is being undertaken by Sefton Council and overseen by the Southport Town Deal Board, a group made up of a number of representatives from key businesses and community groups in the town.

Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Town Deal Board, said ‘This is an exciting opportunity to invest in Southport’s future – the resilience of its economy and culture for the benefit of the community. Following initial conversations we have gathered feedback from residents, businesses and leaders in Southport. This feedback has helped us put together a number of Big Ideas and themes, which could help to guide the future of the town.

These Big Ideas aim to encourage more people to visit and stay in Southport, provide better opportunities for local businesses to grow, and ensure residents have every opportunity to make the best of our very special town.”

Consultation on the draft Vision and the Big Ideas for Southport will run from Monday 29th June until Monday 20th July – local residents, businesses and visitors are invited to provide their comments online at www.yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/futuresouthport.

Those without internet access are encouraged to call the consultation hotline on 0808 168 8296.

Rob Fletcher, added ‘This consultation is part of the first stage of an evolving process to unlock Government funding for Southport. The Big Ideas on the website present our initial thoughts; we encourage everyone in Southport to participate and share their own views on how £25 million could be used on projects in the town. The consultation will run until Monday 20th July. Following submission of the Town Investment Plan there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved during the next stages of the Town Deal and we plan to undertake further engagement in the future.”

Following the consultation, the Town Deal Team are due to submit a Southport Investment Plan to the Government later this summer.

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