A date is set for the start of work on the £20m transformation and partial demolition of The Strand shopping centre in Bootle – but not until after Sir Tom Jones has stopped singing. Tony McDonough reports
How Bootle Strand looks today. Image from Google Earth
Sefton Council says work on the £20m transformation and partial demolition of The Strand shopping centre in Bootle will start this autumn.
This project will see new leisure, education and health services and introduce more green spaces to Bootle, while still retaining a retail offer at the heart of the town centre.
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, in September 2021 council leader Ian Maher admitted its value had plummeted to under £15m.
Sefton sees the centre as a vital component of regeneration of the wider Strand area. In partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority it has pushed forward with the Bootle Canalside project.
Consultations with Sefton residents and work beginning on the Salt and Tar events space helped the redevelopment plan to build steam. And plans were accelerated in March 2023 with the award of £20m as part of the Government’s Levelling Up fund.
From August 16 to 18 the Music Weekender will take place at Salt and Tar and will be headlined by Welsh singing legend Sir Tom Jones as well as Status Quo and local legends Red Rum Club.
Soon after those events hoarding will go up on site to enable initial works to take place to strip out buildings and prepare the areas to be demolished. In the new year demolition works will start off the vacant housing and units on the southern side of the centre.
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Cllr Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council, said: “This is one of the most important developments in Sefton as it will transform the town centre and make it a place for even more people to come and enjoy.
“Not just for shopping but also a place people can enjoy their spare time and support the local economy.
“We all know town centres need to adapt to the modern world and we’ve already seen with the Salt and Tar venue that if you give people more reasons to visit it will attract more visitors and this in turn supports our local businesses.
Welsh singing legend Sir Tom Jones will play Salt and Tar in Bootle in August
“While there will be some disruption during the works our aim will be to keep this to a minimum, for businesses, residents and visitors, and the key message to remind people is that the shopping centre will remain open throughout.”
Proposals for the Strand, which were recently awarded £20m of Government funding, will see the repurposing of the former M&S building, along with new public spaces and routes being created between Stanley Road, Salt and Tar, and Washington Parade.
More information can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/BootleStrand, and later in the year the council will open a newly relocated unit dedicated to consultation, engagement and communication with businesses, residents and visitors, to be located near New Look.
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