New Year demo planned for £20m Bootle Strand makeover
Sefton Council has confirmed that strip-out and preparation work will happen after the summer, with buildings ready to be torn down in early 2025.
Hoardings will be going up later this year to signal the start of the demolition to make way for a £20m revamp of the Strand Shopping Centre.
Eventually, the Strand will be transformed with leisure, education, and health service provision, and more green spaces while keeping a retail offer in the town centre.
Work will start on site soon after entertainment events scheduled for mid-August have taken place. The site will be hoarded off to allow the strip out of buildings and demolition preparation.
In the new year vacant housing and units on the southern side of the centre, accounting for around 15% of the 400,00 sq ft site, will be razed.
Sefton Council acquired the shopping centre, which dates back to the 1960s, seven years ago for £32.5m.
The authority has since worked alongside Avison Young and K2 Architects to develop a masterplan for the Strand, having been awarded £20m for the project through the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
This would involve repurposing the former M&S building, revamping public spaces and creating routes between Stanley Road, Salt and Tar, and Washington Parade.
A digital creative hub, office space, and an integrated health and social care facility are also proposed at the heart of the redevelopment.
Joining Avison Young on the project team for this stage of the development is Summers Inman, K2, and WSP.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, says the project is ‘ready to go’.
She said: “It’s a really exciting time and we’re often being asked by people ‘When is it going to start?’.
“Major construction is always challenging but our planning includes consideration of the events programme, the back-to-school period, and the busy Christmas period. But we’re ready to go.
“There will be some changes to walking routes and access through the work and these will be communicated nearer the time – the important thing is that we all continue to use the shopping centre and support our local businesses so we can see the real benefits of this investment when the work is completed.”
Atkinson added: “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.
“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.”
To view the plans for this phase, search for application number DC/2023/01735 on Sefton Council’s planning portal.
Good Luck and looking forward to seeing it when back in Liverpool next year❤️
By TommyO
The landscape architect’s that designed the entire public realm are probably due a mention here. OPEN (part of SLR consulting) have developed the public realm proposals from concept through to the planning application. Given that this constitutes over 60% of the site it would be remiss to not give them a mention.
By Andre the Giant
Good luck with this, Bootle needs a makeover and to re-focus, as we all know high streets and shopping malls like this are not having the best of times, but its amazing what some quality landscaping can do and some thoughtful reconfiguring of shopping areas. Big shops are almost not required now in places like this but what remains can benefit from some quality, well designed houses and flats nearby to boost footfall. Leisure is a big part of the catalyst now to liven up these locations and Bootle needs to seize this opportunity.
By Anonymous
I hope we get some descent shops like Mark’s & Spencers outlet that was there before and also T.J. Hughes, & Wilkinsons, instead of going into the City. Also more class, less yobs, druggies and bulldogs.
By Anonymous long term shopper at the Strand.
It’s days as a shopping centre are well over.
Might as well construct something useful.
Strange Peacocks have just closed their entire chain and I didn’t even know there was one in the Strand
By Eric
Where are the shops if your goin to refurbish something the north park is in need of a facelift
By Anonymous
I agree with the annonymous long time shopper (like me ) at the strand
By Anonymous
I doubt if M&S would open here, but a Tesco Extra which sells food and clothing would be better, or a big Sainsbury’s. It’s some time since I ventured there but having a Home Bargain is a safe bet, plus some coffee outlets and a restaurant or two like the Italian Village in Liverpool. Other essentials like chemists, a post office etc would generate footfall too.
By Anonymous
It all looks good on paper, but there’s far too many open spaces and most of the roof being demolished. There is something we have more than our share of , it’s called RAIN. Explain how we’re supposed to keep dry? I agree more than ever it needs a make over ,but not over populated with charity and coffee shops. It must keep most of the big named stores, to save a trip into Liverpool….How about a scale model, that would be far better than any artist drawing..thanks
By John woodruff
I doubt it will cost £20 million, it will take a long time and will cost double or even triple in size, and they won’t even dismantle this ugly tall building
By Rk
Ha ha just like they did with St John’s you mean and it looked pathetic like a storage unit
By Bobthebuilder
@ July 24, 2024 at 6:03 pm
By John woodruff
An umbrella
By Anonymous
Surely the planners could incorporate a local neighbourhood market into the mix here. This should be in the form of an indoor market with stalls selling foodstuffs only like fruit,veg, bread, groceries, plus alongside that could be cafes and bars selling pizza, tapas etc.
The new market at Chester is a great example, while something like the neighbourhood market at Barceloneta in Barcelona, only smaller, would suit.
By Anonymous
I am old enough to remember the Strand when it was an excellent shopping centre. A safe and interesting shopping centre with a wide variety of shops. It has gradually deteriated over the years. Drug users and alcoholics have made it their home, the new plan will not discourage this, in fact it will encourage it.
By Anonymous
I would be pleased if they could supply a decent number of disability toilets. As this why I find it difficult to visit Bootle Strand.
Also good luck with the development. It will transform Bootle and I think it will bring people far and wide into our community.
By Pauline Irvine
I’ve worked all over the country, and Yes Bootle needs massive makeover, including a theatre for plays and gigs, also there’s rubbish all over the place it needs picking up, it’s embarrassing really.
By Cally
The hoarding is going up by Sefton work on the ground floor and by the photo shop by the big onion on the top floor
By Josh
More blah blah blah. This is about the 6th pipe dream illustration that’s been released now. We all know it’s not going to look like any of them. Looking at these comments some people haven’t set foot in the Strand for years
. And Josh, what are you going on about ?
By Directly affected
So where will residents do there shopping?
By Anonymous