Bootle Strand demolition completed as Sefton expands Salt and Tar horizons
VINCI Building’s work on phase one of Sefton Council’s flagship regeneration programme will enable a new Mons Square and improvements around the Salt and Tar events space, which could also be added to with a permanent indoor venue.
Sefton said that following the shopping centre’s raxing, the next steps will focus on preparing the site for a redesigned Mons Square and improvements to Salt and Tar.
Salt and Tar will be central to Sefton’s ambitions: the council has today announced that its expression of interest for Town of Culture status in 2028 will include significant investment in the venue, with a high‑quality, multi‑use indoor events space alongside the existing outdoor facility – well received since its inception, the outdoor space is in line for expansion to 5,000 capacity regardless.
The council said that a feasibility study had highlighted “the need for permanent, high‑quality infrastructure, development” to underpin the bid. Developed alongside the growing outdoor space at Salt and Tar, a covered indoor venue would help deliver a stronger, year‑round cultural programme for Bootle, the council believes.
Could Salt and Tar’s remit be expanded? Credit: Sefton Council
Facilities should also include rehearsal and recording spaces that support grassroots artists in Bootle, Sefton and beyond, said the local authority.
As things stand, the Bootle site has a clean slate. More than 60 tonnes of steel and around five tonnes of timber have been recovered and recycled from the demolition.
In addition, approximately 8,000 tonnes of brick and concrete were processed on site and reused as engineering fill, much of which will be retained for the next phase of construction.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, said: “This is an important step forward for Bootle. Quality public spaces and improved facilities that people have asked for, starting with a new Mons Square and better infrastructure for Salt and Tar.
“Thank you to residents, businesses and our project partners for their patience and support as we move into the next phase.”
Next on the agenda is delivery of detailed designs for the new public realm that will be a critical part of improved links around the town centre, including the refreshed Mons Square.
As reported by Place North West at the outset of the demolition phase last summer, phase one of the Bootle town centre transformation plan is intended to deliver high-quality public spaces, modern retail and leisure units, flexible business accommodation, improved transport links, and enhanced community and cultural facilities.
The reworking of an M&S store into an F&B destination is a crucial part of the project, along with linking up the canalside area, where Salt & Tar has found its home.
The reworked former M&S store will feature 7,700 sq ft of F&B space, 14,300 sq ft of community use space, and 5,300 sq ft of exhibition space.
Sefton’s project is supported by a £20m grant from central government alongside additional funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
This is a mental waste of money for an area whose economy is in the toilet. Looks nice but let us not be distracted that this is happening in lieu of attracting less flashy but more employment-led investment to the are
By Sad
If Sefton looking to make a meanwhile use permanent suggests strongly the original long-term plans weren’t viable.
Perhaps they should concentrate on getting the theatre/events venue in Southport started first instead of just releasing new CGIs every so often, and progress reports reporting no actual progress.
Given they have an actual fading holiday resort to run (not well in recent years) there’s a good case these sorts of events should be concentrated in Southport to draw people back there, rather than in Bootle to draw them away.
The Strand site is far more useful for reasonably dense housing or all-year-round employment space.
By Napoleon III
There exists a mindset within Sefton Council, that everything revolves around Bootle. Maybe it’s because the undoubted centre for income to Sefton has always been Southport, whether they choose to continue to deny this or not.
The future source of Sefton income will be from here.
The council needs to open their eyes, grasp the nettle with both hands, and accept that, investing in Southport now, is an investment for all of Sefton and its future development for years to come.
By T G of Southport
The plans for the strand look to be fair. The revamp is needed and long overdue.
What i can’t understand is, when the work is completed and it opens, we’re going to be left with a derelict eyesore of the Merton pub on the strands doorstep. Even the old office blocks near it are becoming unsightly now with boarded up windows and graffiti, it’s shocking how this has been allowed to happen and it really does make Bootle look terrible. The Mons and People’s old site on Linacre Lane need sprucing up too. It’s such a shame.
By Mike jones
Bootle 1 a competitor to Liverpoo1 1 five minutes away on the train!?
To use football analogy, “what a waste of money.”
By Anonymous
Are they going to ask the residents of the area whether or not they want this salt and tar venue. Will a Noise survey get carried out.
The noise could be heard on Southport Road. Clearly and distinctly every word every noise.
Are they putting a open air venue in formby or birkdale or the other coastal communities.
I guess not. We don’t matter here in bootle.
Do any of these councillors actually live in the vicinity of what effectively was a noise nightmare.
By Anonymous
I think Bootle has a lot going for it and needed an upgrade, Southport has more or less lost its beach and this was the main draw for most people along with its fairground. Bootle has Crosby beach and marina and is situated alongside a underused but amazing canal network. For me Bootle has a lot more going for it and Southport has had its day.
By Anonymous