Have your say on Les Transformations de Southport Phase 2: Southport Promenade Concept Design Consultation
Sefton Council want your views on the proposed changes to Southport Promenade. Phase Two of “Les Transformations de Southport” (LTDS) will improve access to the new Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC). The proposed design will better connect the town centre and the waterfront with new public spaces and road crossings for people. The designs are still being planned, and people can help decide what happens next.
The first phase of Les Transformation de Southport improved roads and pedestrian spaces around Southport Market. Phase two, this phase, will improve Southport Promenade.
Why now and why the Promenade?
- The Promenade is important to the heritage and attraction of the town centre, connecting the historic centre with the Marine Lake Events Centre, Pier and waterfront.
- The reopening of the pier and MLEC development are expected to attract many more pedestrians and visitors to the waterfront. We want to provide the right balance of pedestrian and resident access, vehicle traffic, and formalised car parking to improve road safety.
- Currently the street offers a less ideal pedestrian experience with infrequent crossings and pavements interrupted by sideroads.
- The Promenade proposal will make it easier to walk, take the train, or cycle when making a journey to the MLEC. We want to make it easy to get to the MLEC with safer routes and public space, supporting travel to the town centre, waterfront and the tourist attractions.
- The plans will connect with local cycling and walking routes, such as the Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Network routes.
- We want to address some of the concerns raised around risk of collisions with traffic in a waterfront area that can have high footfall.
Why are public realm, walking and cycling improvements good?
Making it easy for people to walk and cycle is important for the success of the MLEC and our seafront. It helps people to stay healthy and reduces traffic and pollution for the benefit of pedestrians.
Improving public spaces supports people wanting to visit the town centre. This can lead to more shopping and spending. Better design using greenery can also help with capturing rainwater and make the area more pleasant for everyone.
Where are the projects located?
Below is a map showing where three related projects are in Southport Town Centre. This shows:
- Phase 1 of LTDS on Market Street, King Street and Eastbank Street.
- Phase 2 of LTDS on Nevill Street, Marine Parade, Bold Street and The Promenade.
- The Marine Lake Events Centre is on The Promenade in the location where the Southport Theatre used to be.
What will happen to traffic movements?
This project has been carefully designed to generate less through traffic, creating space for much-needed improvements to public areas and pedestrian facilities.
A key element of the plan is to formalise the central reservation on The Promenade, transforming it into a green spine. This new feature will enhance the environment, create a dedicated cycling route, and help prevent traffic from cutting through residential streets in the town centre. Additionally, limited junction movements at the Promenade/Marine Parade intersection will help reduce waiting times for both pedestrians and motorists.
The key changes are as follows:
- Nevill Street will only allow cars to go one way north, past West Street.
- The Promenade will change to have a middle section with a cycle path. This will stop cars from cutting through Bath Street and keep cyclists safe.
- Marine Parade will only let cars turn left onto the Promenade and left into Marine Parade from the Promenade.
- The top part of Bold Street will change to only allow traffic to go southbound from the Promenade.
- Parking on the Promenade will be organised on the south side to provide sixteen parking spaces for cars.
- There will be new spaces for taxis, disabled parking, drop-off areas, and coach bays. This will help people get to the MLEC by these modes of travel.
- When it opens, the MLEC will have 142 car parking spaces for pay and display.
- Eight new pedestrian crossings will be added for people walking. Some will have traffic lights, and some will not.
- The road will be narrower on the Promenade to give more space for pedestrians.
What is happening to the landscape design?
The landscape design of the project builds on the benefits brought by the highway changes, which will include wider footways due to narrower carriageways and additional crossing points.
Sign posts, street lighting and parking facilities will be improved. Similar to Lord Street, greenery such as trees and grasses will be planted along the length of the Promenade to make the street.
This will soften the appearance of the Promenade and add character. Key interventions include:
- New paving, signs and direction information will be provided. New trees and grasses will be planted. The new trees and grass will make the area greener and more pleasant.
- New tree and grass planting.
- Cycle lanes and bike parking will be provided. This is good for health and the environment.
- The traditional lighting columns will stay. They help keep the area's character. There will be new seating areas to sit and rest, such as benches.
- Tactile paving will be provided in some areas near the road crossings. This will help people who are blind or partially sighted.
This picture shows what the changes might look like when viewed along the promenade. There are plants and trees, a path for bikes, and parking spaces.
This picture shows the new plan for the Promenade. It has a 3D image of the MLEC building, a new pedestrian crossing, better paving materials, and plants. The picture shows people crossing the street and walking to the MLEC building.
FAQs
With the planned new MLEC, the promenade proposal will make it easier to walk, cycle or take the train when taking a journey to the MLEC. The Council are aiming to have the promenade works complete to be ready around the time of the MLEC’s opening.
This coincides with the restoration of the pier. With these two developments, there will be an expected increase in footfall. We want to improve the road safety for those visiting the waterfront, from residents to local businesses to tourists.
The future improvements are aimed at reducing the risk of collisions in an area of high pedestrian footfall. The changes address some of the concerns raised over road crossings. Sefton Council are aiming to improve the safety of all road users when travelling to tourist attractions.
The new design will encourage drivers to route around the centre of the town rather than through it.
Vehicles will be directed to use streets such as Seabank Street, Leicester Street, Park Street, and Marine Drive to access the seafront to the north. Similarly, routes like the Esplanade, Duke Street, and Kingsway will connect the two areas to the south.
This design will discourage large numbers of traffic from interfering with the heart of the town centre, particularly outside London Square. This will achieved by changing Nevill Street from a car-dominated road to one that prioritises people.
The proposed changes have been evaluated using a traffic model, and it has been determined that there will be no significant impact on traffic flow or congestion in the area, even during peak summer traffic conditions.
The central reservation ensures several objectives are met. The central reservation creates the street's green corridor. The green planting will link and provide space for cyclists and improved pedestrian crossings. This feature will still make sure ensure kerb edges of the Promenade retain their functions with the addition of a cycle lane.
Accessing these streets from the northbound carriageway of the Promenade will no longer be possible via a right-hand turn because of the central reservation.
Vehicles needing to reach Nevill Street, the Promenade, Seabank Road or Lord Street will need to use alternative routes, including the upgraded Seabank Road/Promenade roundabout.
This will allow drivers to access the southbound carriageway of the Promenade and turn left into the Bath Street area. Those who need to access Nevill Street will have to do so from West Street, Bath Street and Lord Street.
Parking will remain available along the southbound edge of the Promenade’s carriageway.
Spaces will be formalised to meet current highway standards and accommodate the complex access requirements along the southbound edge of the Promenade.
A total of seventeen formal parking spaces will be available on the Southside of the Promenade (opposite the MLEC).
There is additional drop-off and pick-up spaces located outside MLEC, and three disabled parking spots and coach parking.
Long-term parking will also be available in nearby council car parks. There will be additional parking on the MLEC site when complete.
An informal crossing point includes dropped kerbs, tactile paving, and changes in surface appearance to provide a less formal but safer pedestrian crossing point. While it does not include signals, it relies on the judgment of pedestrians to assess when it is safe to cross.
This design provides safer crossing points without frequently interrupting traffic flow with a more formal signalised crossing.
The proposed cycle lane is part of Sefton’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which identifies the Promenade as a key route for connecting residential areas, employment zones, and local amenities.
The Promenade is wide enough to accommodate a cycle lane without compromising space for vehicles, pedestrians, and other modes of transport.
The central location of the cycle lane ensures a direct and safe route that does not interfere with kerbside activities such as loading, parking and taxi bays.
Cycle parking will be integrated into the design as part of the overall scheme.
Funding is identified in the agreed transport capital programme for detailed scheme development.
Discussions are ongoing with the Liverpool City-Region Combined Authority for the funding to deliver the scheme. It is aimed to have the whole scheme delivered for the opening of the MLEC.
Surfacing materials will be consistent with the "Les Transformation de Southport" Phase 1 scheme on Market Street, creating a cohesive and distinct Southport palette for use across all future projects. Planting will reflect the coastal nature of the area, using coastal grasses and other low-maintenance plant options.
The scheme will include frequent seating to ensure the space is accessible for everyone.
These areas will allow people to enjoy the new public space and take breaks if needed during longer walks.
The design will include contrasting colours in the pavement to highlight crossings, servicing bays for delivery vehicles, and footways.
Tap rails, tactile paving, and other measures will help people who are blind or partially sighted navigate the area. Tactile paving will also help distinguish formal and informal crossings.
Benches and dropped kerbs will be provided to accommodate those with mobility impairments.
The existing historic lighting columns will be retained within the central reserve.
The Council held a consultation on their Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) this year from 23rd July to 15th September. This consultation was on a broader policy document covering all of Sefton. It aimed to help choose routes that are a priority to develop active travel in the borough.