Council Southport

Sefton Council to reassess future of Southport Esplanade Park & Ride site

Published 23 September 2026, 2:59 pm

By Tim Johnson

Open roadside area with fenced field, blue sky and a few street signs near a road.

Sefton Council is revisiting the future of Southport’s Esplanade Park & Ride site in light of increasing private sector confidence in the town.

Next week Sefton Council’s Cabinet is being asked to consider a fresh look at how to take forward development opportunities for the site.

This proposal, if agreed, will ensure future use of the land delivers the strongest possible benefits for residents, businesses and visitors.

Investment

Private-sector interest in Southport has been buoyed by a series of public-sector investment projects such as the development of the Marine Lake Events Centre, the refurbishment of Southport Pier and plans for the transformation of the Town Hall Gardens.

The Council believes these projects, alongside major events such as The Open and Elegantly Eccentric, has led to an opportunity to assess a wider range of proposals for the land, and a range of other local assets, before committing to any particular development.

In recent years Sefton Council entered an exclusivity deal with private sector investors with a view to them acquiring the land for the Cove Resort.

While this exclusivity agreement has now expired, the Cabinet report makes clear that the Cove Resort remains a credible option.

Assesment

However with private sector interest only growing and the potential for Southport to thrive even further, a refreshed assessment of options allows the Council to consider financial value alongside benefits for the local economy, communities and the environment.

This includes assessing how any development would fit with Southport’s growing regeneration in the current climate.

Sefton’s Cabinet is not being asked to approve the sale of the site or select any particular development, nor does approval of this proposal rule out the Cove Resort as an option for the site.

A new place strategy for Southport is also being developed to help ensure individual opportunities complement one another and that future developments support a wider coherent plan for the town.

Work on this has opened opportunities for discussion with a range of potential investors, clearly demonstrating that the profile and attractiveness of the town and the scale of opportunity offers an exciting prospect for further momentum and positive change to the town’s economy. 

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “This is an important site and we have a responsibility to make sure its future use delivers the best possible outcomes for Southport and its residents.

“Our investment in the town, alongside that of our partners in the private sector, is generating undeniable interest in what comes next. We want to turn that interest into tangible benefits for Sefton.

“The Open Golf Championship this summer brought the eyes of the world to our borough, and our events programme continues to bring footfall and profile to Sefton.

“We will therefore be robustly testing options before committing to any particular proposal. Public consultation and engagement will also take place as part of any future proposals.  

“We are also pleased to see the same level of interest and opportunity in Bootle, where our investment in the revitalisation of the Strand Shopping Centre and the continued success of Salt and Tar has also galvanised further private sector interest in the town.”

The report to next week’s meeting also sets out the need for safeguards in any future agreement, including delivery milestones and measures to address non-delivery. The place strategy and any recommendation for disposal of the site would be brought to a future Cabinet meeting at the appropriate time.