Sefton sets out next steps for long-awaited Strand overhaul 

A planning application for the redevelopment of the 400,000 sq ft council-owned shopping centre is due early next year. 

Sefton Council has been working alongside consultancies Avison Young and K2 Architects to draw up a plan for the Strand, which the council acquired from Ellandi for £32.5m in 2017. 

The authority has now revealed the redevelopment of the shopping complex will see the diversification of the centre to include new food and drink offers, leisure and entertainment facilities, culture and education elements and new integrated health and social care facilities. 

The strategy is to “retain the best of the existing Strand shopping centre and unlock its original potential by opening elements of the centre to create more public spaces and to work with the original buildings and structures, rather than large scale demolition and redevelopment,” the council said.   

Having drawn up its outline vision for the Strand, Sefton will now undertake soft market testing to work out how best to deliver the project. This could involve appointing a developer as a delivery partner. 

A final decision on how to proceed with the project will be made by Sefton Council’s cabinet this summer. 

The authority is to resubmit a bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund for £20m to support the project’s delivery. 

In addition, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has invested £500,000 from its Mayoral Towns Fund and £1.8m of strategic investment funding into the Bootle Canalside project – a leisure scheme on adjoining land. 

The Strand overhaul aims to “make the town more resilient and confident as well futureproofing the Strand for a rapidly changing high street,” according to Sefton Council. 

“We are proudly and passionately committed to the regeneration of Bootle, which has been hit hard by the pandemic and has too often been overlooked,” said Cllr Ian Maher, leader of Sefton Council. 

“The Strand shopping centre is the beating heart of Bootle and the loyalty of the community to this cornerstone of the high street is immense. Our plans to offer a diverse range of services within the Strand and transform the surrounding areas would not be possible without council ownership of the shopping centre and the loyalty of the people who go there.” 

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, added: “This ambitious vision for the future of the Strand is proper levelling-up in action – and will make a real difference to people’s lives. 

“The Strand is an area with so much more potential to unlock. The combined authority is working with Sefton Council to help make sure that Bootle’s future is as vibrant and exciting as possible.” 

A report that went before Sefton Council last year revealed the value of the Strand had more than halved to £14.24m since the acquisition.

Maher defended the authority’s decision to buy the shopping centre, saying the reduction in value was “expected”. 

“The decision to acquire the Strand Shopping Centre in 2017 to act as the catalyst for regeneration has proven to be the correct one,” he said at the time.