Southport Development Framework
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Southport Development Framework October 2016 Commissioned by Sefton Council 2 Contents 1. The Framework Vision for Southport 04 2. Introduction 05 3. Southport in Context 07 4. Southport: Existing Character 12 5. Spatial Framework 16 6. Southport’s Beachfront and Promenade 18 7. Southport Town Centre Core 24 3 8. Town Centre Management and Initiatives 28 9. Making it Happen 33 10. Conclusions & Recommendations 35 Appendix 1: Development Opportunities 36 Appendix 2: Case Studies: Attractions - Adding to the Leisure Offer 38 Appendix 3: Case Studies: Events and Town Centre Initiatives 41 1. The Framework Vision for Southport 1.1 The Southport Development endeavour, in a high quality the town’s heritage as well as its future. should be encouraged to explore Chapel Framework provides an ambitious leisure, retail, historic and public Despite the economic challenges of recent Street, as well as more independent starting point that encourages years, this document reconfi rms the offerings on Wesley Street and Union space offer for those who live in, importance of the town’s principal street Street. Visitors should be aware that it is discussion and buy-in from the work in and visit the town. and makes suggestions for how it can only a 10 minute walk from the Railway local community, businesses and continue to be improved. Station to the Pier. Everyone should know potential investors. The Framework 1.4 Southport is fortunate to have many where the market is. Lord Street should will act as a roadmap for developing organisations and businesses across a range 1.5 There are a number of recurring and form the backbone and focal point to a more detailed set of proposals to of sectors who have demonstrated their complementary themes in the Framework a series of interconnected places and commitment to the town for many years. It associated with how Southport works spaces. enable change in Southport Town is important that all stakeholders support physically and spatially: Centre, building on its current key Diversity - taking opportunities to add a shared vision for the town and together new uses and to better showcase existing Quality – echoing the Classic Resort strengths and attractions. continue in helping shape its future. ones to complement and strengthen the Vision, it’s important to ensure that quality core destination offer will enable the town 1.2 In the last decade Southport adopted the 1.5 There are a number of specifi c interventions is central to future investments and to respond more fully to contemporary 4 position of England’s Classic Resort. The suggested which will support the vision. interventions – for example gateways interests. Examples include creative arts, defi nition of classic is - ‘judged over time to These include: into the town, car parking, public realm, the digital economy and social media, café be of the highest quality contemporary visitor connections, shopping and leisure. Lord culture, independent food and drink, food offer and outstanding of its kind’ - always Developing a Southport offer to meet the Street should be the benchmark for quality. meeting the needs and expectations of needs of today’s family leisure market. The markets, music, events and street art. Clarity – it should be clear how the town Again Lord Street is the central location discerning visitors. The vision made it clear needs of families continue to change as works, how it ties together, how visitors that ‘Classic’ was identifi ed with a quality their expectations are shaped by the high from which to showcase and signpost this access key assets and how they move new vibrancy. contemporary offer, to set it apart from quality, thrilling experiences which they around. It should be clear where you are in Spaces and Places – leisure, culture other coastal destinations. The quality of have enjoyed around the world. Leisure the town in relation to other parts. It should and enterprise take place in our buildings, the town’s unique heritage; valued built and experiences also need to address the be clear where you park to access different street and squares. The Framework natural environment; retail; accommodation; implications of today’s multi-generational parts of the seafront, promenade, and proposes to develop on the strong urban food and drink and cultural offer, are families which see value for money as town centre. It should be clear that there form and built assets of the town to some of the essential elements for further synonymous with the highest quality. The are arcades, markets, open space, and a create or rediscover spaces to showcase strengthening. redevelopment of the beachfront as a 21st beachfront that are there to be enjoyed – new activities, a quality streetscape to Century family leisure destination is key to explaining where they are and how to get 1.3 As the needs and expectations of today’s encourage interaction, movement and this. there. residents, workforce and visitors continue to commerce and new and re-imagined Nurturing a hub environment and a focal Linkages – the heart of the town is a evolve, so too will the experience which they point for students of Southport College, buildings to create defi ned places and new will expect to receive in the town. In order to sizeable area and key assets are set activity. businesses and others in the areas some distance apart – links are important live up to the Classic Resort values, present of creativity, design, digital and social day expectations are refl ected in a vision that and should be populated with new uses media, possibly around Lord Street. and points of interest as far as possible can be considered – A classic seaside This combined with an on going cultural to join the parts of the town together, town that is more contemporary programme would help build a local so that activity in one area can be of and dynamic, merging the old reputation for creative industries and benefi t to others. Regular shoppers encourage adults of working age with and the new; diverse in its offer, should be encouraged to make the walk these interests to establish themselves and to Lord Street for a more diverse cultural embracing creative industries, want to remain in the locality. experience around a relaxed leisure offer digital technology and youthful Long recognised as Southport’s ‘jewel in supported by food and drink, the Atkinson, the crown’, Lord Street is at the heart of events and animated public space. Visitors 2. Introduction 2.1 The town has had to adapt and is still adapting The Centre has hosted a number of national Southport is a key to the increasing regional, national and and regional party conferences and major international mobility of shoppers, visitors conventions. economic driver in the and tourists; there has been growth in online shopping and an increasing concentration of 2.5 Alongside tourism the town also performs as region as a tourist, leisure retail and leisure facilities into a fewer number of a ‘day to day’ town centre retail destination for larger town and city locations. the residential population as well as a wider and shopping destination, Sefton and West Lancashire catchment area. 2.2 This Framework is a re-commitment to Lord Street has traditionally been one of the attracting a large number Southport as a regionally signifi cant visitor most renowned shopping streets in North West of visitors from all over destination and desirable place to live. England. Community is critical to the town’s success, the country. In recent and residents should be able to benefi t, through 2.6 Southport has long been associated with major employment opportunities and improved events such as the Air Show, the Flower Show years and like many other education facilities as investment comes and the British Musical Fireworks Championship, forward. Existing assets and new investment which generate large numbers of visitors and 5 seaside towns, Southport opportunities should be linked in a coherent, are an important boost to the visitor economy in accessible way. Initiatives around improved the area. has faced new challenges access, events, and the creative sector will help foster a new dynamism in the town. 2.7 Sefton’s wider natural coast offer has an on a number of fronts international reputation for its habitat and 2.3 Southport has a number of key success conservation status and is a recognised enablers in the form of existing assets and its attraction for both passive and active leisure offer, capable of attracting external investment: pursuits. Nearby Ainsdale-on-Sea provides a bathing beach and to the north is the RSPB It’s visitor attractions including Southport Pier, reserve at Marshside. Kings Gardens and Marine Lake, Southport Pleasureland, Splashworld, The Atkinson and 2.8 Southport benefi ts from some of the fi nest The Southport Theatre & Convention Centre golf courses in the UK. Beyond Royal Birkdale Business Conferencing (which regularly plays host to The Open Championship) there are a number of other Lord Street championship standard courses including Host to major leisure events such as Hillside, Formby, Hesketh, Southport and the Southport Air Show, British Musical Ainsdale, Formby Hall and West Lancashire. Fireworks Championships and the Southport These courses will continue to attract golfers Flowershow and will continue to encourage people to take Sefton’s wider natural coast offer short golf breaks in the area. The Golf Coast offer 2.9 Capitalising on Southport’s keys assets which 2.4 Southport is a signifi cant destination for include tourist and leisure attractions on the conferences in the North West following the Beachfront, its unique heritage and architecture multi million pound investment programme in particularly on Lord Street, retail facilities the Southport Theatre & Convention Centre.