Multi-million pound works to improve public realm in Southport town centre are under way as part of the Les Transformation de Southport project with further changes now announced. Andrew Brown reports
Further improvements are being made to the Southport Market Quarter area in Southport town centre.
Multi-million pound work is currently taking place to elevate the areas used by the public along Market Street, King Street and Eastbank Street, with the ambition of attracting more shoppers and more businesses into the area.
This scheme, being led by Sefton Council and delivered by Balfour Beatty, is the Phase 1 scheme of the Les Transformation de Southport.
It will include the pedestrianisation of Market Street, the widening of pavements on King Street and making a section of the road one-way, and improvements along Eastbank Street.
Following discussions with local businesses about the work, Sefton Council is now proposing some modifications to the scheme, and is looking to revise some of its Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).
A wide ranging consultation was completed with businesses and other stakeholders in the area around Southport Market in 2022.
This has helped shape the measures aimed at achieving improvements to the transport and public realm infrastructure in the town centre, as one of the key elements of the Southport Town Investment Plan.
An outline scheme was developed aimed at increasing the space available for pedestrians, improving crossing points, changing the appearance of Market Street to encourage and enable more outdoor use and the introduction of high quality paving and other features.
This investment was seen as complementary to the recent investment in Southport Market, which reopened in 2021 following a £1.4m transformation into a vibrant new food, drink and events venue.
Public realm works began on site in January 2025 and are due to continue until October, with some improvements now suggested.
In a report, Sefton Council said: “In discussions with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority bus team, which have been ongoing for some time, it was agreed that the scheme should provide sufficient space for three buses to stop to meet operational needs on the north east side of Eastbank Street and to future proof for any changes which may result from the bus franchising.
“In order to meet this objective and provide a widened footway on Eastbank Street from Chapel Street, it was clear that a reordering of the bus waiting facilities was required.
“In the engagement with businesses prior to works commencing a request was made of the new owners of the former Coronation pub on King Street near the junction with Eastbank Street to remove the loading bay from the works in order to enable the use of outdoor seating on the widened section of King Street.
“On review by the design team of the previous consultation and loading requirements for businesses, it was agreed that a loading bay was essential on this section of King Street to support other businesses, but the location could be amended.
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“The previously agreed order for Market Street allowed loading for vehicles between 6pm and 10am for the use of the businesses.
“The design of Market Street was aimed at giving the area a different feel, by reducing the contrast between footway and carriageway, removing the kerb upstand and using a permeable drainage system.
“However, the streetscape also needed to reflect the use by vehicles hence the need for some distinction between the areas strengthened to accommodate vehicles and footways, particularly during the loading period.
“During the further engagement prior to construction, some concern was expressed that even with the use of improved materials, the elements of the scheme required to enable occasional loading vehicles, may not achieve the degree of change originally envisaged.”