To repurpose them?
mission – let’s hope these ideas haven’t gone for good.
What it could become:
: rail, bus, cycling and walking transport hub
Status:
A new landmark, the purpose-built Genting Casino building was built in 2008 as part of the Neptune development.
Sadly, it has been empty since Genting announced earlier this year that it would not be opening its Southport site.
Proposals have now been put forward by Bliss Investment Partners for a new mixed-use development on the site which would include new shops, winter gardens, hotel, leisure, public space and more, with views down towards the Marine Lake rather than blocking off the view.
The firm has released images which reveal how a multi-million pound investment could transform the waterfront area of Southport and create a new destination to rival the best in Europe.
What it could become:
New multiuse development with a new hotel, shops, winter garden, and leisure uses.
Status:
The Hesketh Centre on Albert Road, near Hesketh Park, has been empty and boarded up since all of the remaining outpatient services there were transferred to Hartley Hospital from December 11, 2020.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust successfully moved inpatients to the new £21million “state of the art” Hartley Hospital on Curzon Road from the previous Hesketh Centre site.
‘Hesketh Park Hydro’ was once described as ‘Southport’s Premier Hydro’, being the ‘most comfortable home’ for residents, visitors and patients with ‘unequalled cuisine’, and facilities including: drawing room, billiards room, shaded gardens and tennis courts.
A decision over the future of the Hesketh Centre, in Albert Road, Southport, will be taken once owners Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust assess options for the site.
What it could become:
hotel? Luxury apartments?
Status:
A new
An historic pumping station with stunning views across Kings Gardens is up for sale for £100,000.
A planning application to convert the landmark venue into a stylish restaurant and bar was submitted to Sefton Council in April 2017, and was subsequently granted, but this has now lapsed.
The building, on Esplanade, Southport – opposite Morrisons supermarket – was deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ by Sefton Council in 2014. It is now on sale with Fitton Estates.
: A restaurant and bar? A quirky new home?
What it could become:
Status:
Plans to create a new use for the beautiful former Crown Office site on Lord Street in Southport have been approved by Sefton Council.
The historic Grade II building was built before World War II and thrived as Southport’s main Post Office, but it was controversially closed in 2014 with services moved instead to the first floor of WHSmith on Chapel Street. The building has remained vacant ever since.
The former Post Office forms part of a larger group of buildings within this area of Lord Street including the current NatWest building, all of which date to approximately 1912. It also sits within the Lord Street Conservation area.
A new future now awaits however after Sefton Council approved work on the building by owners Crownworld to create a new use for it.
New financial or legal offices? A new restaurant? A Post Office?
What it could become:
Status:
The Southport Visiter office on Tulketh Street has been closed since 2016, and empty since then.
Since the closure, Sports Direct invested £3.5m to create a new Sports Direct, Flannels and USC shops, plus an Everlast gym, while refurbishing the multi-storey car park.
What it could become:
Proposals were suggested years ago to create a shopping centre above Southport station and including the Visiter building – a shopping centre? Luxury town centre flats? A new hotel?
Status:
The scaffolding is now up as building work takes place at the new Techedia HQ in Southport.
The firm is carrying out a £1m transformation of the historic Cloisters building, formerly Christ Church School, on Corporation Street.
Tech entrepreneur Matthew Townson has revealed his vision for the new hub, creating 75 new jobs.
The building, most recently occupied by Taskers Sports, will be divided into two units – one for a new health and wellbeing centre, and the other to house Mr Townson’s firm.
Techedia HQ and health and wellbeing centre
What it could become:
Status:
One of Southport’s most historic buildings celebrated its 115th birthday last year.
The signal box could definitely do with some care and attention.
This Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway signal box was built in 1905, just four years after the death of Queen Victoria.
Once a common sight on railway lines across Britain, there were still over 10,000 mechanical boxes in 1948 but numbers then fell to 4,000 by 1970 and perhaps a tenth of that now.
Birkdale Signal Box has been given Grade II Listed status because of its lack of alteration over the years. The unmodernised signal box still retains its original windows, lever frame and other rarely surviving features such as the external boardwalk.
What it could become:
attraction, cafe.
Historic