Sponsored feature for Ascot Group by Stand Up For Southport
A £700,000 scheme to renovate a 19th Century building in Southport town centre and give it a new lease of life is nearing completion.
Ascot Group, which has an impressive track record of developments across the UK, is working with Sefton Council to bring 3-5 Bold Street back into use while restoring its heritage features.
The site was previously home to ventures including Larkins cafe, bar and eatery and The Beach Hut but has been derelict since the Covid pandemic.
It is on a key route between the busy Lord Street boulevard and the new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre which is currently under construction.
It is suitable for retail, leisure or office uses in the trendy ‘Northern Quarter’ of Southport, which has enjoyed substantial investment in recent years.
Work on 3-5 Bold Street is due to be completed by the end of March, thanks to a project led by Ascot Group; building work by Carroll Group; and design by Ainsley Gommon Architects.
The £700,000 development includes £500,000 support through the Southport Townscape Heritage Project with £200,000 in private investment through Ascot Group.
The buildings were constructed in the 1870s, during the Victorian era, as two shop-houses.
They represent an important part of the Lord Street Conservation Area.
Lord Street Conservation Area is of national importance as one of only two major examples of a boulevard street layout in Britain, the other being Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Ascot Group Financial Director Howard Nicholson said:
“Work is going very well. This project will be complete by 31st March.
“It will create an exciting opportunity for someone coming in to occupy it.
“Work is currently taking place at the top of Bold Street to create the brand new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre and the light show in the Marine Lake.
“Bold Street will be central to the connectivity between the new MLEC development and Lord Street. It’s going to be a busy area! It’s part of the wider regeneration happening across Southport.
“This has been a two year scheme. We haven been improving the frontage; rebuilding the roof; rebuilding the rear of the property; and will be installing new verandahs, to match those on the opposite side of the road.
“We have been well supported by Sefton Council and the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.
“A renovation like this would not have been able to happen without their support. Once the funding became available, it allowed this project to happen.
“The condition of this building when we came in was terrible. It has been dilapidated and empty for a long time.
“It has needed substantial investment, time and vision to bring it back to its former glory, restoring its heritage features while also making it fit for modern purpose.
“Now it has an exciting future for whoever comes in.
“It will be a real landmark when it is finished.
“This is very much a blank canvas. It is suitable for retail, leisure or office opportunities.
“It is close to 509-515 Lord Street, the heritage building on the corner of Lord Street and Bold Street. The ground floor units there have been taken up by the Korean Kitchen restaurant and the SEP Insurance office, so it shows what is possible here.
“Southport town centre was always famous for its great shops and restaurants, but recent investment by businesses such as Techedia, United Legal Assistance, Birkdale Insurance and Lloyd & Co shows that there is a demand for quality office space in the area too.
“We are keen to have a conversation with anyone who is interested in making the most of this space.
“3-5 Bold Street is part of a wider initiative, as Ascopt Group is also working on renovating the properties at 14-20 Bold Street as well.”
The site at 3-5 Bold Street, Southport, was built as two properties in the 1870s, probably originally with ground floor shops and living accommodation above, but has more recently been in single use as a cafe / bar.
The properties’ appearance has been damaged over the years by changes such as a modern projecting ground floor cafe extension, UPVC windows and unsympathetic signage.
Ascot Group and Carroll Group are working to remedy these mistakes and recreate the original lost character of the properties by installing a new frontage of traditional appearance along with a verandah that matches those of adjoining buildings.
The refurbished front will be harmonious with other traditional and restored examples found elsewhere in Bold Street and the wider of the conservation area.
Terry Carroll, the Managing Director at Carroll Group, said:
“This is a really good project to work on; it’s great to see Sefton Council supporting this project.
“You can’t underestimate their investment in this area. The kickstart they are giving to heritage regeneration projects like this in Southport really helps.
“We are enjoying bringing this historic property back to life.”
- For any enquiries about 3-5 Bold Street in Southport please visit: www.ascotpropertyinvestments.com or email: info@ascotpropertyinvestments.com
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