£1M refurb at landmark
AHISTORIC Grade II Listed building on Lord Street in Southport is being restored and brought back into use through an ambitious £1 million transformation.
The landmark site at 509-515 Lord Street, on the corner with Bold Street, is the first project being progressed by the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.
The scheme will focus on improving the historic features on one of the key buildings on Lord Street, as well as creating two new retail units and nine new apartments in a continued trend of attracting more people to live in the town centre.
The scheme aims to attract new businesses into Southport and complement the investment already taking place nearby, with Beales department on Lord Street having just opened and the former Grand Casino on Lord Street due to be converted into a new luxury hotel and wedding venue.
A Southport Townscape Heritage Project spokesperson said: “Our first project building is now underway.
“Many original historical features of this iconic Southport address will be lovingly restored over the coming months thanks to Sefton Council and its partners.
“We will breathe new life into the Grade II listed building at 509-515 Lord Street in what is an ambitious restoration project of over £1 million and kickstart a major part of the Southport Townscape
Heritage Project.
“The renovation, which is taking place thanks to a significant grant contribution from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will see the building’s historical features restored as well as the two ground floor retail units being brought back into use.
“Work will also take place to create space for nine upper floor apartments and careful exterior restoration.”
At the end of 2019, the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) awarded £1.6 million towards a £2.5 million investment in a heritage-led project to regenerate Southport’s historic town centre over five years.
Sefton Council and Southport BID, with support from partners such as Southport Civic Society and The Atkinson, led the successful funding bid and are now overseeing a programme of property grants for historic buildings, skills training and community activities.
The Southport Townscape Heritage Project focuses on the four key streets linking Southport town centre and the Marine Lake attractions – Coronation Walk, Scarisbrick Avenue, Nevill Street and Bold Street – which sit within the Lord Street and Promenade Conservation Areas.
Ironshore Global Limited is leading the project to convert 509-515 Lord Street while Atelier MB Global Architects will design the scheme.
In its planning application, Atelier MB Global Architects said: “Lord Street, Southport, is a fine civic space and was a significant retail destination for many years, but in common with much of the retail sector it has been in decline in the recent past.
“In recent years the lower floors have been difficult to rent and have only attracted transient short term tenancies. However, during this time the upper floors have been virtually unused.
“Despite this the building is in reasonable condition and has a significant amount of original architectural detail remaining.”
Atelier MB Global Architects said in the application: “The proposals will preserve the character of the building by retaining and repairing its significant features.
“Its traditional retail ground floor use will be kept and the property will be enhanced by the virtue of its reuse and its careful repair.
“It will no longer be three quarters vacant and will have secured a sustainable use.
“The proposed changes offer wider public benefit through the preservation of the building.”