In March Sefton secured £20m from the Government for its Bootle Strand regeneration plan and now it is seeking the views of people and businesses on a 20-year action plan for the town. Tony McDonough reports
Sefton Council is asking people and businesses in Bootle to help it put together a 20-year action plan for the regeneration of the town.
In January, the council saw its bid for Levelling Up funding for Bootle and Crosby rejected by Whitehall. However, in the Spring Budget in March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt offered £20m for the transformation of the Strand area.
In 2017 the council took out a loan to acquire the 400,000 sq ft 1960s Bootle Strand shopping mall for £32.5m from London-based retail investor Ellandi and Avenue Capital.
However, in September 2021 council leader Ian Maher admitted its value had plummeted to under £15m.
Sefton sees the centre as a vital component of regeneration of the wider Strand area. In partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority it has pushed forward with the Bootle Canalside project.
With the backing of the CA Section has spent more than £2.5m on its regeneration plan for the area with the shopping centre key to the project. Sefton will work with K2 Architects and property consultancy Avison Young, to make its vision a reality.
Now the council is inviting the community to continue to shape its plans for the town. Following the first round of public consultation last year, the authority has incorporated public feedback into its ‘Area Action Plan’.
This sets out a clear vision for the town for the next 20 years and beyond. It identifies the locations in the town where regeneration and investment is needed and also aims to help to secure the homes that people need and want.
It also focuses on good quality open spaces and facilities, job opportunities and approaches to tackle climate change and environmental issues. It will also help support the council’s plans for Bootle Town Centre.
Once adopted, it will form part of the Development Plan for Sefton alongside the Local Plan.
Phase two of the area action plan consultation began on Monday, August 14. Residents and businesses will have 12 weeks to review and provide feedback on the contents of the plan.
Cllr Ian Maher, leader of Sefton Council said: “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.
“Our vision for Bootle aims to create a thriving town centre that works for all people, brings investment and interest to an area filled with opportunities and builds a happier, healthier, more resilient population.
“But we need the vision and ideas of our fantastic communities to help make our goals a reality.
“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. And we have seen a fantastic response to our creation of Salt & Tar on Washington Parade.
“Our vision of offering a diverse range of services within the Strand and the transformation of the surrounding areas would not be possible without Council ownership of the shopping centre and the loyalty of the people who go there.
Click here to find out more about the consolation and take part in the process.