Funding for levelling up project announced after previous rejection

A multi-million pound revamp of a shopping centre in Liverpool has taken a huge step forward following a last minute government investment.

Last week the government announced £58m would be invested in three new Levelling Up capital projects within the North West of England, including the transformation of Bootle Strand – a shopping centre in Liverpool.

Earlier this year Sefton Council’s Levelling Up fund bid focused on the regeneration of the Strand, Bootle high street and parts of Crosby, but was dismissed. As well as this, the council was rejected when they bid for essential investment in the first round of the fund – announced in October 2021.

Despite being overlooked twice, it has now been announced that Sefton Council will be awarded £20m to push ahead with its Bootle plans. The surprise announcement came alongside Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget, in which the Chancellor distributed £279m to 19 ‘near-miss’ regeneration projects.

Mark Davies, one of the Architects involved in the regeneration project, has welcomed the funding from the government and claims it is ‘the first trial blazing scheme to break the deadlock of Levelling Up in a stoic labour ward, that is one of the most deprived areas in the country’.

Mr Davies from K2 Architects said: ‘This last minue allocation of funds indicates to me that perhaps this time government are really understand what impact Levelling Up and devolution actually means on people’s lives and place.

‘It’s not a set model that fits all: it is about having ambition and a deliverable vision that does not gentrify, but really understands the needs of a community and what works or doesn’t.’

Following the last-minute investment, Council Leader, Ian Maher, said he is now delighted with the outcome’ which he believes reflects the quality of the original bid. The project had previously been backed by the City Region Combined Authority that is now set to add an additional £2m to carry out pre-development work and bring forward a full business case.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: ‘Devolution has given regions like ours the opportunity to chart our own course and invest in projects that will make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

‘Despite some setbacks and disappointing decisions via the Levelling Up Fund, today’s announcement is a big step in the right direction and it is fantastic to see that Sefton’s ambitions for the future of Bootle Town Centre are finally being realised.

‘This is the difference devolution makes – we are helping to open doors to projects that are rejuvenating parts of our communities which have been starved of funding for decades. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for Bootle Town Centre.’

Image: K2 Architects