Sefton’s cabinet will this week discuss appointing a contractor to start the redevelopment of Bootle Strand shopping centre – a project worth tens of millions of pounds. Tony McDonough reports
Sefton Council is on the verge of appointing a contractor to kick-start the redevelopment of Bootle Strand shopping centre.
On Thursday this week members of the authority’s cabinet will discuss a proposal to work with Vinci Construction UK on the scheme which is expected to cost tens of millions of pounds.
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.
Consultations with Sefton residents and work beginning on the Salt and Tar events space helped the redevelopment plan to build steam. And plans were accelerated in March 2023 with the award of £20m as part of the Government’s Levelling Up fund.
Vinci Construction UK will be proposed as the demolition contractor after it was identified as the top choice in a tender process. The council’s planning committee approved the demolition job in December 2023 and The Strand will remain open during the work.
Plans proposed by Vinci include introducing 20 new jobs for local applicants during the demolition phase, plus the introduction of work placements for school leavers and care experienced young people.
Vinci also aims to work alongside local groups including Sefton@Work, Hugh Baird College and YKids and make sure the local community is engaged in the demolition.
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Cllr Christine Howard, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Vinci is a firm with considerable experience and a fantastic track record, and I believe that they are the right choice of contractor for the Strand project.
“The interest we received was beyond our expectations and it is testament to Vinci’s qualities that they came through a highly competitive tender process. This shows that the Strand redevelopment is an ambitious and exciting project.
“Vinci has strong ties to Sefton and is committed to working with the local community. They place importance on social value and have pledged to listen closely to the input of Bootle residents throughout.