Plans to transform Southport’s Town hall gardens in its “most significant regeneration ever” will be officially endorsed by Sefton Council this week.
The full council will meet at Southport Town Hall this Thursday (10th July 2025) where councillors are due to give the green light to the ambitious £10 million scheme.
This exciting legacy project in Southport town centre has been proposed by – and will be led by – the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King.
Their collective vision is for a new town square and gardens that will be a child friendly and family-focused flexible events space in the heart of Southport town centre, that will provide a lasting positive legacy for their girls.
It will also provide an opportunity to say “thank you” to the town for the support they have received from their community.
This Thursday, Sefton Council will officially reaffirm its support for the families and their vision for this legacy project.
They will also confirm that The Leader of the Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson, and the Chief Executive Phil Porter will be Sefton Council’s nominated representatives on the proposed project governance board.
They will also approve the undertaking of a procurement process for a main contractor for the works.
The regeneration will be funded by:
- £5 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- £2.5m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- £2.5m to be funded by Sefton Council
In the report, Sefton Council Executive Director (Regeneration, Economy and Assets) Stephen Watson said:
“The Town Hall gardens space has long been an integral part of Southport’s rich history, but in the wake of the unimaginable events of 2024 it took on new meaning as a place of unity, healing, hope and remembrance. Thousands gathered in this space for a community vigil and used it as a place to leave tributes and flowers for the victims of the tragedy, demonstrating the community’s strength in adversity.
“Their families envision the Town Hall gardens space as a safe and joyful place, full of energy and creative expression — particularly for Southport’s younger generations.
“In direct reflection of the spirit of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, the reimagined Town Hall Gardens will provide a child friendly and safe platform for musicians, dancers, artists, culture lovers and more, ensuring it remains a vibrant hub for generations to come.
“Beyond its cultural significance, the regeneration project will play a key role in Southport’s ongoing economic recovery and growth.
“By creating a flexible high-quality public space, the project will attract visitors, support local businesses, and complement other landmark public developments such as the Marine Lake Events Centre and Les Transformations De Southport projects.
“The project will also be accompanied by an exciting events programme for Southport for the coming years and beyond, helping to make Southport’s town centre as exciting a place to be as possible for children and families.
“Sefton Council has worked closely with the families to secure local and national funding and provided detailed feedback to ensure the project reflects the aspirations of the community.
“The £10 million project has the full backing of Sefton Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the UK Government and the Royal Family.
“Southport Town Hall gardens and square will require a full refurbishment to re-landscape and level out the gardens to create an outdoor events space for public use which will include new food and drink offers on the site.
“Alongside this, an events programme is being created to bring free and paid for events to Southport throughout the year, both new and building on the successful events already held in Southport.
“Additionally, work will be done to ensure that the surrounding existing facilities in The Atkinson, Cambridge Walks and Southport Town Hall are all complementary to the offer and standards of the new project.”
The families of Alice Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Stancombe issued a joint statement welcoming the project. They said:
“This project is a vision we have all shared for some time, which is rooted in love, resilience and unity.
“We wanted to find a way to thank the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with us. Your compassion has never wavered and your strength has helped carry us forward.
“The regeneration of the Town Hall Gardens will become a legacy inspired by our three beautiful and amazing girls and it will be a space that is loved by many generations to come.
“It will be a place of joy, hope and community. A vibrant place where children and families can feel safe, connected and celebrated in the heart of our town.
“We are grateful to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to Sefton Council and to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and each of the region’s Councils, for listening to our voices and helping us achieve the funding we need for this project.
“This is only the beginning, and we all walk forward together with our amazing community in Southport, with purpose and hope.”
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