Bar set to breathe new life into town
AVACANT Victorian era shop on Lord Street in Southport is due to be converted into a new wine bar and apartments.
The scheme aims to help breathe new life into Lord Street, while bringing more people to live in the town centre.
It is being led by Craft & Sons, which is already in the process of transforming the Albany Buildings at 339-341 Lord Street into a climbing centre and cafe.
The plans for the new venture will see the ground floor of the former Fabulous Furniture store at 479-481 Lord Street - previously the Jaeger shop - change into a mixed use premises comprising a wine bar and a reception area to the front and three new one-bedroom studio flats to the rear. The building has been empty for the past three years.
The historic building was built in 1877 and the proposals will see a number of historic features restored.
In their planning application, Craft & Sons said: “Sefton’s Local Plan aims to improve ‘the declining high street.’ Bringing life back into one of Lord Street’s historically significant buildings will help contribute to Southport’s economy.
“The proposals identified will ensure the ground floor is brought back into a sustainable use.
“The design is sympathetic to the heritage and character of the existing building fabric.
“The proposed residential units and wine bar / reception area will be formed to maximise the historical features, spaces and natural light, whilst conforming to current regulations.”
The new wine bar would create four new jobs, with two full time and two part time.
It would operate 10am11.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am-12.30am on Saturday and 10am-11.30pm on Sunday if the plans are approved.
The planning application said: “The existing property has 9 residential units: 4 studios; 4 1-bedroom flats and one 2-bedroomed flat all on the upper three floors, most of which are used as Serviced Accommodation (SA).
“Following the success of these short-term rentals, Craft & Sons are applying for permission to provide three additional units to the ground floor.
“In addition to this, there will be a wine bar and reception / booking area for the SA to the front. “The existing flats are accessed through the passageway to the left side of the building. This leads to a communal lobby area situated at the rear of the ground floor which gives access to a stairwell and lift, laundry room, bike store and rear yard.
“The proposed ground floor conversion will provide access from the high street through the building to the communal lobby.
“Externally, the only alteration proposed is to reinstate four previously blocked windows on the left side elevation. This would be done by removing the cement from the external skin to expose the window behind.
“The structural beams and columns will be exposed where possible to reflect the historical nature of the building. Studios 2 and 3 are designed so that the structural columns are on display, rather than concealing them in a wall.
“The application site is an under-used resource that has been vacant for some time. The proposals will bring this historical resource back into use and will assist in the regeneration of Lord Street.
“The proposals represent a viable long-term use that will secure the preservation of the listed building.
“The proposals will create an active frontage from Lord Street.”