Sefton Local Plan - Scoping Consultation 2026
Town Centres and Shopping
What the Plan Must Do
- Set out a strategy for Sefton’s main centres, including Southport, Bootle, Maghull, Netherton, Formby, Ainsdale, Birkdale, Churchtown, Aintree (Old Roan), Seaforth, Crosby and Waterloo.
- Help provide a range of uses in Sefton’s smaller local centres and shopping parades.
- Support appropriate shopping, leisure, culture, events and commercial uses in appropriate places.
Issues to Consider
- Reduced demand for traditional retail space has resulted in a large number of vacancies in Sefton’s centres and parades.
- Opportunities for new homes in centres where appropriate but restricting poor quality conversions.
- The role of high streets in community life and economic growth.
- Night-time economy opportunities and how best to manage these.
- Need to try to restrict the number of fast-food takeaways in most deprived areas and close to schools.
Tell us ...
- What role should each centre play in the future?
- What improvements would help revitalise our centres?