Sefton launches Bootle Strand public consultation

People in Bootle are being asked for their views on the imminent transformation of Bootle Strand, backed by £20m of Government funding. Tony McDonough reports

How Bootle Strand looks today. Image from Google Earth

With work due to start on the partial demolition of Bootle Strand shopping centre, Sefton Council is seeking the public’s views on the transformation of the town centre.

In 2023 the council secured £20m in funding from the Government in what was then called Levelling Up. It is going to use this cash to kick-start the refresh of the town centre with the Strand at the heart of it.

In 2017 the council took out a loan to acquire the 400,000 sq ft 1960s Bootle Strand shopping mall for £32.5m from London-based retail investor Ellandi and Avenue Capital. However, by September 2021 its value had plummeted to under £15m.

In partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Sefton pushed forward with the Bootle Canalside project. This initially led to the opening of the Salt and Tar events venue. Last week it hosted the Music Weekender festival attended by 11,000 people and headlined by Sir Tom Jones.

Now, using the £20m cash injection the authority is set to partially demolish the Strand and redesign it to create new leisure, education and health services and introduce more green spaces.

Ahead of work starting early next year, Sefton Council is seeking people’s views. Working in partnership with Counter Context, the consultation will run from Thursday, August 29, to Thursday, September 19.

Local residents and businesses will be invited to share their thoughts on the future of Bootle Strand and the wider plans for the town centre. Among the discussion topics will be accessibility, designs for Mons Square and uses for the former M&S building.

Following the consultation, all comments and feedback will be collected by a dedicated team. These will then be used to shape the next phases of work, with a planning application due to be submitted later this year.

A summary of feedback will be made available to the public shortly after the end of the consultation. As the transformation project progresses, further engagement and consultation will take place with residents and businesses.

People can share their views by visiting the drop-in sessions, which will be held:

Friday, September 6, 11am to 4pm at the Strand Information Centre, opposite Greggs.
Wednesday, September 11, 2pm to 7pm in 329 Stanley Road (the soon to be Kingsley & Co unit).
A webinar will also be held soon with the date and timings to be confirmed shortly.

Information will also be available online at www.sefton.gov.uk/BootleStrand, and comments or questions can be submitted to strandfuture@sefton.gov.uk

Councillor Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said: “As always, consultation is a vital part of our planning, and we hope residents will take the opportunity to have their say.

“We’re entering an exciting period of transformation in Bootle. We want the changes to reflect the needs of residents, businesses and visitors, and to help us achieve our goal of making Bootle an attractive destination for all these groups.

“Working together has always had brilliant results, such as Salt and Tar, which has been a big success. I’m sure that we will get lots of valuable suggestions and I look forward to hearing what people have to say.

“I encourage everyone who lives in, works in or visits Bootle to get involved and let us know their thoughts.”

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