Spectacular plans have been revealed for the multi-million pound transformation of the historic former Garrick Theatre site in Southport.
The proposal involves the part conversion to provide residential, hotel, spa and retail units at ground floor, and the refurbishment of the existing auditorium as an event space.
Ambitious plans for the landmark Art Deco building, which opened in 1932, include:
- A hotel providing 137 No. rooms
- 11 residential apartments including a terrace and pool at 4th floor,
- Various commercial units
- A gym and spa
- Bar and restaurant
- Refurbishment of the existing event auditorium
- Construction of a lift to the rear
- A roof top extension to provide 5 additional floors
- A new canopy to the front
A planning application has been submitted to Sefton Council by Garrick Southport Ltd.
The building was most recently utilised as a Mecca Bingo hall.
It adds to the recent resurgence of Lord Street in Southport, which saw The Grand transformed by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure last year in a £4 million redevelopment.
Other recent new arrivals include Maverick’s Bar, Occulo Lounge and Casablanca.
In the application, with architectural design drawn up by Footprint Design and Absolute Services as the Structural Engineer, said: “In general terms, the reordering of areas of the building will have a negligible impact on the significance of the building itself, and allow for a sustainable new use of a key structure.
“The imaginative re-use will prevent deterioration and a void in the conservation area, and may encourage a greater critical mass of related activity.
“The Lord Street conservation area will benefit from the reuse of the building, in a part of the conservation area associated with civic and commercial uses, and which has a focal and destination function.
“The current redundancy of the building is part of a disturbing pattern of patchy occupation and disrepair of buildings within the area, and its re-purposing with an entertainment function for which it was designed, alongside complementary new uses, should contribute positively to the conservation area.
“The discontinuance, or limited use, are both a maintenance and a perception issue, impacting directly on the character and appearance of the conservation area, and a potential downward spiral of decline, which is evident elsewhere along Lord Street and Eastbank Street.
“The re-use will encourage other projects in the area, and provide improved animation and activity in this location.
“It is considered that the impact on the Lord Street conservation is likely to be majorly beneficial.”
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