Southport Market Quarter will be transformed in the New Year in a bid to attract more visitors and more local businesses.
The £2.5 million scheme is the first phase of the Les Transformations de Southport project being led by Sefton Council.
Public realm improvements to the area will include the pedestrianisation of a section of Market Street, which will allow more space for shops and cafes there to utilise the outdoor space for external seating and events.
King Street will become a one-way street with the pavements widened in order to create a more inviting experience for families.
A Sefton Council spokesperson said:
“Engagement with stakeholders is ongoing and further dialogue and updates for local businesses is due in the coming weeks.
“A contractor has now been appointed for this scheme and works are scheduled to start early in the New Year to avoid disruption to local businesses in the lead-up to Christmas.
“Sefton Council will be providing a wider public update later in the year.”
Southport Market Quarter area has been a regional regeneration success story since Sefton Council’s Tourism team led the £1.4 million conversion of Southport Market in 2021 into a vibrant new food, drink and events venue.
The venue has become home to a series of local, independent hospitality businesses which pay rent according to turnover, allowing them to develop.
Ventures such as 600 Degrees Pizza, Cake Corner, Pitamu and others have enjoyed such success inside the Market they have since expanded to open other new locations elsewhere.
The investment in the market has led to the opening and expansion of a number of new independent local businesses nearby including Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen; Southport Market Blinds; Eva’s Sewing Room; The Cake Box; The Plant Room; Crystals and Crowns; Lectric Eye; and more.
Quicksilver Music, a long-term operator in the area, expanded into bigger new premises in April.
Connolly’s Irish pub opened inside the former Coronation pub earlier this year.
The work to improve roads around Southport Market aims to attract more new businesses to the area and make it a more pleasant environment for visitors.
A report by Sefton Council published in November last year said: “The main aim is to provide more public space and restrict traffic, so that more people can enjoy the market and its surroundings, creating opportunities for new and existing businesses to develop and expand in that area.”
Les Transformations de Southport is one of the major schemes of Southport Town Deal, which is currently supporting the construction of the new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre on the site of the former Southport Theatre.
Work is also due to take place soon to improve Chapel Street and Eastbank Street.
In a previous report, Sefton Council’s Assistant Director Highways and Public Protection said:
“The provision of infrastructure to underpin economic growth was one of the three themes of the Town Investment Plan for Southport and this project provides the transport and public realm infrastructure needed to support the ambition of the Town Fund and the changing patterns of travel demand and movement around the town.
“The overall project is expected to cost approximately £12.75m and £2.5m of funding has been allocated from the Town Deal to enable the delivery of the first phase of the project.
“The first phase focuses on the changes to Market Street, King Street, Eastbank Street and Chapel Street.
“The main aim is to provide more public space and restrict traffic, so that more people can enjoy the market and its surroundings, creating opportunities for new and existing businesses to develop and expand in that area.”
The scheme creates a traffic free section on Market Street alongside the market, providing a new street environment that will provide additional space for pedestrians.
This will require converting the existing carriageway to a new paved surface that will provide level access for pedestrians across the full width of the street but which can still be used for service and delivery vehicles at certain times.
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