Sefton to consider vision for Southport Debenhams

The new owner of the defunct grade two-listed department store building wants to transform it into apartments, shops, a restaurant and bar, and a 20-room aparthotel.

A Preston-based company called Firmcore Consulting bought 539-563 Lord Street – the former home of Southport’s Debenhams – last October for £792,000, according to Land Registry documents.

The property is located within the Lord Street conservation area in the centre of Southport. The property comprises part basement, ground and two upper floors accessed from Lord Street and from Stanley Street from the rear.

It has been used by Debenhams for more than 35 years until the retailer collapsed into administration in late 2019 and vacated the property in 2020.

Now, Firmcore has submitted a listed building application to Sefton Council outlining its vision to bring the Victorian property back into use. Listed building consent is sought to subdivide the front section of the ground floor fronting Lord Street into four units for retail or restaurant uses.

The interior is tipped for use as a series of small retail, office, or craft spaces.

Then, the rear buildings fronting Stanley Street would be converted into an aparthotel, according to the application. This would have 20 apartments in total with the possibility of two additional loft-style units in the roof.

A collection of around eight residential apartments would also be created, looking out onto Lord Street.

“The proposal is a comprehensive one to enable the building to be fully utilised to ensure its long-term retention and to return it to its former splendour,” the application states.

Several of the building’s key features would be retained under the plans, most notably the glazed verandah on Lord Street, which is of “high architectural value”, two double doors giving access to the building, a stained glass laylight with columns and moulded beams on the shop floor areas, and two decorative staircases inside.

The development is likely to be phased, with phase one being to divide the ground floor Lord Street frontage into the four retail or F&B units, the application adds.

Firmcore is headed up by director Iain Pemberton, who is named on planning documents and on Companies House. The proposals for the building were drawn up by RAL Architects on behalf of Firmcore. RAL Architects has been contacted for comment.

Other properties in the North West previously occupied by Debenhams are being considered for redevelopment. One example is the 185,000 sq ft building at Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE shopping centre, which is to be transformed into an entertainment venue with a go-karting track.

Stockport’s vacant former Debenhams store is tipped to house a new hospital as part of the borough’s wider town centre regeneration strategy, although plans are in the very early stages. 

The planning application is reference number DC/2022/01776 with Sefton Council.