Multi-million pound proposals to build a new M&S Foodhall, Lidl supermarket and business park next to Formby Bypass have been refused.
Councillors on Sefton Council’s Planning Committee rejected the ambitious The Point development last night (Wednesday 16th September 2026) as they looked into the proposals at Bootle Town Hall.
They said they were concerned about an insufficient demonstration that the site could be served by sustainable forms of travel, particularly by bus.
They were also not convinced by the extent of retail development in the proposal and the impact this would have on Formby District Centre.
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Sefton Council’s Planning officers had urged councillors to grant the plans.
Sefton and Formby Developments Limited believe their 31.35-acre The Point scheme would create “substantial employment opportunities” for the area.
It is not yet known whether they will take the decision to appeal and ask the Government’s Planning Inspectorate to decide.
The new scheme would also include a new medical centre, a Costa Coffee drive-thru, another drive-thru, and a new junction off Formby Bypass.
It would also offer small-scale business starter units; co-working spaces; light industrial facilities; and new research and development hubs.
The 2,185 sqm Lidl store would be served by a 123 space car park while the 2,006 sqm M&S Foodhall would offer 178 customer car parking spaces and an additional 11 car parking spaces for staff.
The first phase also incorporates a 1,033 sqm community medical facility, addressing local health needs.
Earlier this month, Tesco and Aldi wrote to Sefton Council with their objections to the scheme. Earlier this year, Aldi submitted a full planning application to Sefton Council to build a new 1,881 sq m supermarket at the Sandbrook Way local centre in Ainsdale, creating 40 new jobs.
Avison Young, on behalf of Aldi, revealed Aldi is concerned about the impact that new stores in both Woodvale and Formby would have on Formby town centre and Ainsdale Village centre.
They wrote: “Whilst the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate and Sandbrook Drive planning applications do not serve the exact same catchment areas, both applications would divert trade from some of the same centres. Both proposals would divert trade from Formby district centre and from Ainsdale local centre.
“In this context, we have reviewed the Officer’s report for the 16 September 2026 planning committee and note that it does not address the matter of cumulative impact and, specifically, whether both the Land North of Formby Industrial Estate and Sandbrook Drive proposals could both be implemented without any unacceptable town centre impacts arising.”
Sefton’s Planning officers advised councillors to approve the plans, saying “the principle of development is accepted”, and that “there will be no severe adverse impacts on Formby District Centre”.
In their report, Sefton’s Planning officers said: “The proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Formby District Centre or other nearby identified centres, it will not increase the risk of flooding to or from the site, whilst ecological impacts can be appropriately mitigated.
“It is accepted that there are differing views relating to the sustainability of the site, however, this is an allocated site that has been subject to various assessments and found sound by a Planning Inspector for development.
“It is considered that the proposal complies fully with the aims and objectives of the Sefton Local Plan, the Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan and as such should be granted consent.”
In their planning application, on behalf of Sefton and Formby Developments Limited by Mono Architectural Design said: “As a whole, the proposed development will deliver the high-quality business park envisaged by the Local Plan policies, which will perform a strategic role in attracting significant local and inward investment and generating a high level of job outputs within a high-quality environment.
“At present, the site is currently a greenfield site, and would be cleared, altered and levelled sympathetic to its context and environment.
“Given Sefton & Formby Developments commitment to invest in Formby, the proposed development will, if consented, be constructed at the earliest opportunity, and will provide a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the employment offer in Formby.”
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