EXCICITING Exciting new images show how Southport's Town Hall Gardens could look after being transformed into a vibrant botanical garden and performance space.

 

The artistic renditions has been unveiled as part of the 2nd stage of Sefton Council's consultation into the regeneration of the:- Town Hall Gardens on:- Lord Street, which begins on:- Monday, 21 September 2026.
 

A £10 million regeneration project for the site was announced after the gardens became a key focal point for the community since the tragic events of July 2024. Funded by:- Central Government, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Sefton Council, the regeneration of the gardens is the shared hope of the families of:- Alice Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Stancombe as their way of saying:- 'thank you' to the town who supported those directly impacted throughout an unimaginably difficult time.
 

Sefton Council is inviting:- residents, businesses and visitors to have their say on the transformation, which aims to create a welcoming, accessible and safe multi use space for:- families, children and the wider community. The current proposals have been shaped by feedback received during the 1st stage of consultation which took place in late 2025, and reflect Southport's distinctive:- history, coastal landscape and horticultural heritage.
 

4 connected character areas feature within the designs:- The Performance Plaza, The Mega Ripples, Celebration Dunes, and The Botanical Garden. Combined, they would provide flexible space for:- performances and community events, opportunities for play and relaxation, new planting and improved biodiversity, as well as:- improved accessible routes through the gardens. Each section is intended to reflect some of the very best characteristics of Southport and the Sefton coast.

This central section of Lord Street has formed the civic heart of Southport since the 19th Century. Developed in the early 1800s, as a boulevard lined with trees, majestic civic architecture, and famous cast-iron glass canopies, the street is renowned for inspiring:- Prince Louis Napoleon, later:- Emperor Napoleon III of France, to redesign Paris with broad boulevards after his stay in Southport in:- 1838. Anchoring this historic promenade is the Palladian Town Hall, constructed between:- 1852 and 1853, and the adjacent Atkinson Arts complex, endowed by local benefactor:- William Atkinson, and opened in:- 1878.
 

Directly outside:- The Atkinson, in London Square stands Southport's Grade II* listed War Memorial, which overlooks the gardens. Unveiled on:- 18 November 1923, by the:- Earl of Derby, and rededicated in:- 2023, by:- HRH The Princess Royal to mark its centenary, the memorial features a prominent:- 67 foot Portland stone obelisk flanked by Greek temple colonnades, remembrance pools, and fountains. Designed by Grayson and Barnish with intricate carving by Herbert Tyson Smith, the monument stands as a lasting symbol of public memory and reflection, providing a historical setting for the transformed Town Hall Gardens.
 

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:- "These updated images bring to life our shared ambitions of creating a beautiful, welcoming and community focussed space in the heart of Southport. Southport's Town Hall Gardens has worn many different looks over the decades but has always been a vital space for Sandgrounders to gather. With this latest regeneration we want to ensure that local people feel it belongs to them, for them. It should be a safe and inclusive place where families can spend time together, children can play and our communities can come together for performances, events and celebrations. This is a heartfelt thank you to the people of Southport for their solidarity over the last 2 years. We want the new look Gardens to not only capture the history, character and spirit of the Town, but also create something special for future generations. The presence of water features was 1 of the biggest recurring themes from the stage one consultation, which is why we're proposing the:- 'Mega Ripples' linked to the Town’s historic Sea Bathing Lake and importance as a hydrotherapy resort in decades gone by. Southport's rich theatre and cinema legacy will be reflected in the Performance Space, while the Celebration Dunes are a not so subtle nod to the stunning ecologically rich dunescapes of Birkdale and Ainsdale. People also wanted to protect and enhance the gardens' greenspace which is why we’re ensuring there are more trees and planting opportunities than ever before with the new Botanical Garden. Clearly the 1st stage of consultation helped us understand what people value and want to see from the gardens. We are now asking everyone to look at the emerging designs and tell us what they think before the proposals move towards the planning stage."
 

Secretary of State for Communities, Angela Rayner, said:- "The people of Southport have shown the very best of community; immeasurable strength, compassion and togetherness through an unimaginably difficult time. These gardens have been at the heart of the community’s efforts to rebuild and reconnect, while honouring and remembering:- Alice, Bebe and Elsie, and all survivors, with love and solidarity across the Town. These plans will help protect that spirit for generations to come, ensuring the gardens remain a special place for children and families in the local community to enjoy."
 

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:- "Southport has shown incredible strength and solidarity over the last 2 years, and the Town Hall Gardens have become a place where that spirit is felt every day. These plans give us the opportunity to create something that reflects the character of Southport and gives people a beautiful, welcoming place to come together for generations to come. I'm really pleased that, along with our partners, we in the Combined Authority have been able to play our part in making this vision a reality, and I’d encourage everyone in Southport to have their say on the proposals."

The designs also consider factors such as:- accessibility, visibility and security. New planting and opportunities for community gardening and work with local schools would celebrate Southport's botanical identity while supporting nature and long term stewardship of the space.

Following the end of the consultation back in:- September 2026, all responses will be analysed and a summary of the findings will be published. The design team will then consider whether changes are required before the proposals are finalised for a planning application. Any future construction timetable would remain subject to:- consultation feedback, planning approval, technical development and the necessary procurement processes.
 

The consultation is open until:- Monday, 5 October 2026, and people can view the designs and complete the consultation via:- Sefton.Gov.UK. Alternatively you can give your views over the phone via:- 08000803263 or in writing to:- 'FreePost DEVCOMMS.'