A multi-million pound project to transform Bootle Strand will happen in four phases and is set for completion in 2031 with planners set to give the go-ahead this week. Report by Tony McDonough and Andrew Brown
Sefton Council planners are expected to give the go-ahead this week to the multi-million pound transformation of Bootle Strand which will take place in four phases.
Councillors on the planning committee will meet on Wednesday (January 15) to kick-start the latest phase of the plan which is centred around the Strand shopping centre and is backed by £20m of Government funding.
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.
Since then it has kick-started the regeneration effort with the Bootle Canalside project. This initially led to the opening of the Salt and Tar events venue. In November LBN revealed the CA was to inject a further £585,000 into the venue.
In December the planning permission was secured for the enabling works (phase 1) which involves partial demolition of the shopping centre – around 62,000 sq ft.
Focus of this latest application will be phase 2 which will see the creation of a new town square. There will also be landscaping work to better connect the shopping centre with the existing Salt and Tar site, as well as the canalside.
In December the council released a video flythrough of how the Strand will look when the transformation is complete. Click here to view.
Sefton anticipates that the four phases of the project will be delivered by 2031. In his report, Sefton Council chief planning officer Derek McKenzie said: “The Strand Transformation project is an important regeneration opportunity in Bootle which has attracted significant Central Government funding.
“Due to the complexity of the redevelopment the proposals would be implemented over four phases between 2023 and 2031. This phase would focus on the delivery of the town square, addressing significant level changes and associated landscaping.
“Conditions to control the proposed uses, landscaping materials and elevational changes, highways, lighting, sustainability, land contamination, biodiversity and the protection of the canal side are recommended.”
This next phase will see the introduction of more green spaces and community areas. It also shows new changes to the former M&S building, with plans to repurpose the shop into six individual units and a community space.
Plans have been shaped by responses to the council’s consultation from people who live, work, and visit Bootle. As a result, the designs are fully accessible by wheelchairs and pushchairs, and easy to use by people with impaired mobility.
READ MORE: Work starts on £8m Wirral Max Spielmann hub
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said in October: “We are excited about our ambitious plans for the town, and it is great to see that this is reflected by our residents, business owners and visitors.
“Work is already under way to prepare the shopping centre ahead of the demolition, which is due to start early in 2025.”
The Strand will remain open to the public during all works and disruption to the public will be kept to a minimum.