Southport is busy preparing for an exciting year in 2026 with some huge developments taking shape and hundreds of millions of pounds in investment flowing into the town. Andrew Brown reports
Here are 21 of the biggest redevelopment projects people in Southport will see taking shape and moving forwards this year.
These schemes, some of which have been inspired by the £37.5m Southport Town Deal regeneration support from the Government, are set to act as a catalyst for more investment coming in.
There are a couple more huge projects due to be announced in the coming weeks in what will be a huge year of change for Southport, at a time when the eyes of the world will be on our town with the 2026 Open Golf championship taking place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
1 Southport Town Hall Gardens
Southport Town Hall Gardens will undergo a £10m transformation this year – fuelled by love.
This substantial legacy project has been proposed by – and will be led by – the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King.
Their collective vision is for a new town square and gardens that will be a child friendly and family-focused flexible events space that will provide a lasting positive legacy for their girls.
Lady Marina Dalglish has been appointed as Independent Chair of the project board. She will sit alongside the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and funders as the ambitious legacy project progresses.
The historic space will undergo its most significant regeneration ever, creating a family-friendly, child-orientated, and safe open-air performance and gathering space as a lasting ‘thank you’ to the people of the town.
Alice, Bebe and Elsie, whose shared love of dance, music and the arts have inspired the vision, which will lead to the creation of an inclusive community focussed events space.
2 Bebe’s Hive
A few steps away from the Town Hall Gardens will be the new Bebe’s Hive, after the charity unveiled plans to open its new home.
Bebe’s Hive was launched last year to offer a safe, creative place for children to explore grief in their own way. It was born from the loss of much-loved Bebe King, aged 6; rooted in love; and guided by Bebe.
It will be situated inside the former Sefton Council One Stop office inside Cambridge Arcade.
It’s just a few steps away from the Town Hall Gardens, which are about to be transformed into an exciting new family-friendly events space in a £10m redevelopment led by the families of Bebe. Elsie and Alice.
3 Southport Pier restoration
Major restoration works on Southport Pier are due to begin in early 2026. The transformation of the second longest pier in the UK – it comprises 68 bays and is 1,108 metres in length – is expected to take 14 months to complete and is expected to reopen in 2027.
In September last year, the Government allocated up to £20m from the Growth Mission fund for Southport Pier repairs to be carried out subject to a full business case.
Southport Pier is estimated to generate £15ma year for the Southport economy and has been badly missed since its closure in December 2022.
4 Marine Lake Events Centre and Light Fantastic
Operator of the Marine Lake Events Centre and Light Fantastic, ASM Global, is in place and ready to go.
Now we await the official appointment of the contractor due to build this £73m attraction on the promenade. It is the central scheme of Southport Town Deal.
DSM has successfully demolished the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre which has enabled them to move onto critical enabling works.
As final options are being considered on the main contract the project team are bringing works packages forward to ensure site activity continues.
This includes completing detailed design of the new ramp that needs to be constructed to allow further mains works to commence. Work is ongoing to appoint a contractor for the main works contract with a target date of March 2026.
5 Cove Resort
Plans are progressing to create the new £75m Cove Resort in Southport.
Cove Resort will be a major new tourist attraction on the Esplanade site in Southport, with stunning views looking out across the Irish Sea.
Visitors will be able to experience multiple leisure activities including an outdoor lagoon, an extensive thermal spa and other facilities. A large 4-star hotel on site will complement the resort’s leisure offer.
This new attraction is due to be built on the former Esplanade park and ride site, between Victoria Park and Southport Beach.
On Thursday, February 5, councillors on Sefton Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss an options appraisal and recommendation for the proposed disposal of the Esplanade park and ride site for development by Cove Resort.
6 Ainsdale Coastal Gateway
Sefton Council has unveiled a new vision for the future of the gateway to the coast at Ainsdale, following previous consultation exercises with residents and stakeholders.
The proposed plans for nature-led regeneration are designed to create a vibrant, sustainable coastal destination that enhances visitor experience while protecting the area’s unique natural environment.
The vision places Ainsdale’s internationally significant dune systems, rare wildlife and seascape at the heart of its regeneration. As part of this nature-led vision, Sefton Council is committed to maintaining and enhancing the formally protected habitats that make Ainsdale internationally significant.
One key recommendation already made is the demolition of Toad Hall, which has been deemed structurally unsafe and beyond any viable restoration.
7 The Garrick
Work to redevelop the iconic former Garrick Theatre site in Southport to become the UK’s first theatre-spa-hotel is due to begin in May 2026.
The transformation of the historic Art Deco building on Lord Street is one of the most ambitious projects taking place in the town.
Planning permission has been granted by Sefton Council for Garrick Southport to provide residential, hotel, spa and retail units, along with a new theatre and events space.
Two successful commercial outlets are already operating, both local independent businesses: PWR Box Studio and Raw superfood.
8 EFT Group
One of Southport’s fastest growing businesses is getting ready to expand into bigger new premises in the town.
EFT Group, which is currently based in Cobden House, on Cobden Road in Southport and recently celebrated its 50th birthday, is looking forward to moving into three large units at Southport Business Park, on Wight Moss Way, Southport.
The Group consists of EFT Construction and EFT Systems, a combination of businesses that provides a partnership to build, protect and maintain clients’ property, life safety and security assets.
9 Sefton Padel
Get ready to play padel this spring. Players will be able to enjoy five courts at Birkdale Padel, plus three refurbished tennis courts, at Victoria Park in Southport.
In a boost for park users, a new grab and go coffee kiosk will also open to the public and park visitors.
10 Footy Nation
The UK’s first football skills park is opening in Southport this year.
Construction work on the new Footy Nation facility has begun at Ocean Plaza Leisure Park near Southport’s seafront. Footy Nation is transforming two units previously occupied by the Chinese Buffet and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
It will be an addition to the other family attractions already at Ocean Plaza, which include Vue Cinema, Premier Bowl & Laser and Playtown.
Footy Nation is owned by husband and wife Michelle Ball and Matthew Ball who want to open in Southport before rolling their concept out to locations across the UK.
11 Former BHS building
A team of workers is currently busy on site at the former BHS / Broadbents store in the town centre , with scaffolding installed to the front of the landmark Victorian era building – built in 1871 – and along the Corporation Street side.
The scheme is being driven by new owners APG Capital, which purchased the development from previous owners JSM Group.
Planning permission was granted by Sefton Council in 2022 to convert the upper floors (first, second, third and fourth floors) of the former BHS / Broadbents department store into 30 new self-contained apartments.
12 Southport Visiter building
The historic former Southport Visiter office, at 26-32 Tulketh Street in Southport town centre, is in the process of being converted into 26 self-contained flats on the first and second floors.
The ground floor, adjacent to the Sports Direct complex, is being divided and converted into three new commercial / retail units.
The building was occupied by the Southport Visiter newspaper and website, part of Reach plc, from the 1890s until its sudden closure in 2016.
13 Leo’s Bar building
One of Southport’s most magnificent art deco landmarks, the former Leo’s Bar building on Bevill Street, continues to enjoy building work, supported by the Southport Town Heritage Project.
It was built in the Victorian era with a later Art Deco addition to the main frontage.
The existing building has most recently been occupied by Leo’s Bar on the ground floor with storage and function rooms on the first floor, but has fallen into disrepair in recent years.
The transformation of the former Leo’s building at 42-50 Nevill Street in Southport town centre will bring “significant positive regeneration benefits” to the area.
Sefton Council has approved a planning application to:
Divide the existing Leo’s bar on the ground floor into one pub and two retail units
Change of use of the first and second floors to form six new residential dwellings comprising two, two- bedroom flats and four studio flats.
14 Eastbank Enterprise Arcade
Work is now complete. Hatters Digital Marketing Agency has been confirmed as the first tenant, with a number of other prospective tenants in discussions on terms.
The ground floor, a food and beverage-led unit, is in design with an occupier and terms are in discussion. There is additional development of space within the Eastbank Enterprise Arcade to enhance the existing offer.
One attraction of the scheme is that the public realm work on the Southport Market Quarter is now complete.
15 Southport Market Quarter
Last year’s £6.25m ofpublic realm improvements in the Market Quarter under Les Transformation de Southport is now complete.
Phase 1 of the improvement works saw the pedestrianisation on Market Street; King Street becoming a one-way street; and several enhancements to Eastbank Street.
The most visible elements of the work are the introduction of new paving, the excavation for tree pits and rainwater gardens which are a feature of the completed works.
16 Waterfront Southport Hotel and waterfront site
Numerous potential buyers have registered their interest in taking over the former Bliss Hotel in Southport.
Will we see a big announcement this year, ahead of The Open golf championship coming to Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport?
The sale would be a going concern, with the four star hotel currently still operational.
17 Wetherspoon Hotel
The Victorian building in Southport town centre which houses the Sir Henry Segrave Wetherspoon pub on the ground floor will be transformed into a new 30-bedroom Wetherspoon Hotel after planning permission was granted last year.
Sefton Council says the conversion of the 19th century four-storey Pavilion Buildings at 93-97 Lord Street will “restore the features of a building that have fallen into disrepair and bring back into use the vacant upper floor areas to secure its long-term viability”.
The Wetherspoon scheme will see the revamp of its current Sir Henry Segrave pub site on the ground floor with a bigger public house customer area.
18 Southport FC and KGV new sports facilities
Work is progressing well on new sports pitches at KGV Sixth Form College in Southport.
It’s the result of a promising partnership between Southport Education Group and Southport Football Club that is seeing significant investment in the sports facilities at the college.
As part of this collaboration, the playing fields at KGV are being be completely refreshed, creating two full-size football pitches and one nine-a-side pitch.
These facilities will be used by college students during the day and will serve as the official training ground for Southport FC.
This regeneration of the football fields has been made possible thanks to the support of the Old Georgians’ Association and the KGV Education Foundation.
19 Willow Grove site
There has been substantial interest in the former Willow Grove Wetherspoon building on Lord Street / Nevill Street in Southport town centre after it was divided into three new units in a bid to revitalise the site.
Expect announcements over new tenants this year.
The Grade II-listed building at 387-389 Lord Street, which is believed to have been built in the 1880s, has been vacant since Wetherspoon closed the pub in April 2023.
Wetherspoon still operates the Sir Henry Segrave pub at the southern end of Lord Street, and has also had planning permission granted to to build a new 30-bed hotel on Lord Street.
20 Next at Meols Cop retail park
Fashion retailer Next will open its much-anticipated new store at Meols Cop retail park in Southport this year.
It is part of the recent rejuvenation of the park, which in recent months has seen the expansion of Home Bargains; the opening of a huge new Sainsbury’s and Argos superstore; and the arrival of other new tenants such as Mountain Warehouse and PureGym.
Next will open in the former Currys unit at 2A Meols Cop Retail Park with building work ongoing.
21 Debenhams building
Work on the former Debenhams department store in Southport town centre into a new development will continue the resurgence of the ‘Northern Quarter’ in the Lord Street area.
It will add to other quality developments in recent years such as The Grand, the Lord Street Hotel, the revamp of The Bold, the expansion of Volare and more.
Phase one of the ‘comprehensive’ Debenhams will see the restoration of the Victoria era frontage on Lord Street into four new shops, restaurants or bars, in order to “return it to its former splendour”.