Work to transform the Market Quarter in Southport is due to begin in January in a scheme that will take an estimated nine months to complete.
Local businesses will remain open while the work is taking place.
The ambitious scheme, part of ‘Le Transformations De Southport’, will see the pedestrianisation of Market Street, alongside the side of Southport Market.
The aim will be to create a more pleasant shopping, dining and event experience.
This section of the work will be prioritised, so that it is ready ahead of the busy Spring and summer season.
King Street will become a one-way street with wide pavements, again to attract more people into the area.
The scheme will be funded from the £5.265 million allocation in the 2024/5 Transportation Capital Programme for delivery of the Phase 1 Public Realm works comprising City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements and Levelling Up funding.
It follows the successful £1.4 million conversion of Southport Market by Sefton Council in 2021 into a thriving food, drink and events space.
The initiative has been a catalyst in attracting new local businesses into the Market Quarter, such as Season Coffee, Bar & Kitchen; Connolly’s Irish pub; Eva’s Sewing Room; The Plant Room; Crystals & Crowns; and more.
The £1.5 million Southport Enterprise Arcade creative space next to the Market Quarter, on Eastbank Street, is due to open early in 2025.
The proposed closure and revocation on Market Street and King Street is due to start on 6th January 2025 and be in place until 30th September 2025.
The closures are necessary to enable works on both Market Street and King Street to be undertaken as part of the Les Transformation De Southport scheme, relating to improved public realm and will allow the works to be completed in an efficient and safe manner whilst maintaining access for businesses.
Approval is being sought to temporarily close:
- King Street, Southport between the junctions of Eastbank Street and Market Street
- Market Street, Southport between the junctions of King Street and the Market Hall yard entrance (west of Queen Anne Street)
- Temporarily revoke the existing one-way order of Market Street, Southport between King Street and Princess Street.
For the new public realm works both the carriageways and the footways on King Street and Market will be upgraded with new paving material and soft landscaping to “create a new streetscape scene”.
A Sefton Council report said: “Due to the complex nature of the works being delivered, including extensive footway and carriageway excavations and to enable them to be completed in a safe and timely manner, it will be necessary to implement a temporary road closure for both roads.
“The expected utility diversions will be completed in collaboration under the same closure.
“The closure will allow both the contractor and the utility companies to utilise the available carriageway space more efficiently without the need to accommodate traffic.
“It will also provide a higher level of safety with a more self-contained site for both the public and the workforce not having to manage the interface with vehicles.
“This additional space will allow the contractor to maximise the width that can be provided for pedestrians and create a more inviting space around the works for customers of the local businesses on each road which will continue to operate during the construction works.
“Officers are conscious that the business environment of Southport has been difficult during the latter half of 2024 and are acutely aware that a public realm scheme does by nature cause some disruption, especially to pedestrian movements.
“The road closures will allow easier temporary pedestrian routes through and around the works creating a more inviting space for customers of the local businesses without the need to accommodate vehicles.
“During the closures pedestrian access to all business and properties will be maintained as will refuse collections and deliveries.
“Works on Market Street will be prioritised to allow the outdoor seating area of the market to be available for when the busier Spring / Summer period picks up.”
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