Sefton hires team to tackle Crosby blight
Sefton Council has appointed planning consultant Nexus Planning, architecture practice Broadway Malyan, surveyor Aspinall Verdi, and transport specialist JMP Consultants to devise a plan to revitalise Crosby Village.
The consultancy team was commissioned by Sefton "to produce a detailed investment strategy for the town aiming to create a thriving retail and leisure centre".
The council added: "The strategy will consider key issues including infrastructure needs, public space, vacant sites, challenges for the town and how new development can be integrated into the existing surroundings. It will also allow local residents and stakeholders to have a genuine say – with the project team inviting everyone to help shape a vision for Crosby for the next 20 years."
The appointment follows a detailed procurement exercise by Sefton Council, which is funding the strategy from the capital priorities fund. The work will be overseen by both the council and the Crosby Town Team.
Despite the affluent local population of the coastal commuter belt district, Crosby town centre has suffered from a lack of investment, rising vacancy rates and reduced footfall in recent years.
lan Lunt, Sefton Council's director of built environment, said: "Crosby has some unique characteristics and huge potential. The strategy will help bring together both ours and the Town Team's ambition for Crosby and clearly set out the council's position.
"Although a strategy will not immediately resolve the issues facing Crosby, it is a vital component in planning a future for the town and, ultimately, driving the vision and investment that is needed.
"Throughout the process we will continue to talk to local residents, stakeholders and businesses to help develop the strategy."
Nexus's Manchester office has recently delivered successful regeneration frameworks for the likes of Northwich, Macclesfield and Shrewsbury. The multi-disciplinary team was appointed on 1 April and the project is expected to last six months.
Its a shame Liverpool City Council couldnt do something like this with Woolton Village and the surrounding areas! Similar situation in the village. And LCC seem to be messing it up further with no consideration of the wider area or a masterplan for Woolton – they just allow planning permission on a piecemeal basis and the area is beign destroyed. Lets hope Sefton can do a much better job – would be hard to believe they wouldnt! Come on LCC – heres an example for you to follow!
By Judy Smith
i think i bulldozer straight through would be best idea
By mike
Cycle and pedestrian link to the beach and onto L1 would change for the better
By Coketown potboilers