Don’t let town units be lost to flats, says MP
VALUABLE retail units on historic Lord Street in Southport shouldn’t be lost to become flats, says the town’s MP.
Southport MP Damien Moore believes that Lord Street is a special place which should be focused on thriving businesses such as shops, restaurants and hotels.
A developer has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council to redevelop the site which was previously occupied by David Robinson Jewellers and Card Warehouse.
Developers now want to change the two Grade II-listed Victorian buildings from 447 to 453 Lord Street, including the floors above them, into 14 apartments.
This would include four studio apartments and 10 self-contained flats, within the Lord Street Conservation Area. The site was constructed between 1880 and 1890.
Damien Moore said: “I am against these proposals. It is a sign of weakness saying that we cannot fill these shop units with new businesses.
“Southport is bouncing back now from the Covid crisis. People will be more hesitant to go abroad, they are going to be more likely to want to staycation, and that could have a really positive impact on Southport.
“Southport could also see significant investment soon in areas such as Southport Pleasureland, Southport Theatre and Convention Centre
and elsewhere. If this investment happens and we see greater footfall then we will see a boost in our town as a whole. It would be sad to then see a demand for new business units on Lord Street only for there to be no capacity.
“Let’s have a good look at who maybe is investing and see if we can attract them here, but let’s move away from the traditional high street retailers. Let’s do more to improve the Lord Street area as a whole and make it more attractive to people to come here and open a new business.
“As part of the masterplan aspect to Southport Town Deal there has been talk of a contraction of retail into a core town centre area. But this should be centred on Lord Street and the surrounding area, and we must seek to preserve that.
“We need to future-proof Lord Street.”
Mr Moore would like to see more vacant space in the town centre made available for living space, but with shop and restaurant space on the ground floor preserved for businesses. He is also keen to see more car parking provision for town centre residents.
He said: “I support the idea of utilising space on the first, second and third floors above the retail units on Lord Street.
“It is quite a continental idea. A friend of mine lives in a flat like that in Berlin, where she has shops and restaurants below. It is a great idea in theory.
“But if we really want this to work then the issue is parking.
“Southport needs more parking provision in the town centre area.
“If you are going to attract professional people to come and live along Lord Street, especially around the centre of Lord Street, where are they going to park their cars? We need to have a serious look at an area in the town centre, and this should be council-led.
“Perhaps this could be on one of the side streets somewhere, somewhere like the former Rosebys store on King Street. Residents who live in the centre could have a key fob to use it, which would make living in the Lord Street area more attractive. This is the kind of innovation we need.
“The lack of available car parking in Southport town centre is a major issue.
“A friend of mine used to live on Lord Street, above Parkinson’s bookshop and what was then Patisserie Valerie. It was a beautiful building with beautiful views overlooking Lord Street, but there was nowhere to park a car nearby, which was a real issue.”
Sefton Council will make a decision on whether to grant to planning permission for 447 to 453 Lord Street in due course.