Hope at last for Southport's former BHS building
Plus: Your guide to events across the town in the week ahead
Hello and welcome to the third edition of The Southport Lead. Once again, I’d like to thank everyone for the kind words, support and encouragement which have greeted the first editions.
Following on from Wednesday’s publication where we launched our campaign to Save Southport Pier, attention today turns to another well-known and once loved spot which many fear is being left to ruin.
The former BHS building on Chapel Street closed down in 2016 and while there have been a series of tenants occupying areas of the ground floor, the building appears in dire condition with a crumbling facade. Finally, all that appears to be changing.
Also in today’s edition, a warning on the upcoming trial of Axel Rudakubana, news of Sefton Council’s dramatic overspend on child social services and Andrew Brown’s guide to upcoming events [which is only for paid subscribers].
Eyesore BHS building finally being restored as new owners plot apartment progress
In the seven years since BHS suddenly closed its Southport store, the Chapel Street building has slowly disintegrated into a crumbling eyesore. At long last, that appears set to change.
The new owners of the building - Liverpool-based Accelerate Property Group - have begun to progress works which will see the upper three floors turned into 30 apartments.
Those works will allow Sefton Council to continue its upgrade of Cambridge Arcade, which has been part-renovated but also partly blocked off around the BHS side where there are leaks and holes which birds are regularly seen flying into.
Having been a staple on the high street for more than two decades, BHS left Southport in 2016 shortly before the company collapsed amid scandal and financial disaster.
The ground floor has since been split up and was initially used as short term lets but has seen more longevity from the current operators who include a phone repair specialist, a clothes shop and the Hugo Lounge café.
But all the while, the exterior has gotten into increasingly poor condition, with smashed windows, crumbling brickwork and plant life quite literally growing out through the walls. Two years ago, Sefton Council called on then-owners JSM to accelerate the planned works. The building was sold last year and progress is finally imminent.
This week, APG requested sign-off on one of the conditions of the apartment planning permission which related to protecting the area’s character and appearance. Meanwhile, APG’s website now lists the project among its portfolio and argues that Chapel Street “is set to become a sought-after residential and commercial hub, offering a blend of contemporary living spaces and thriving retail opportunities”.
Of the project, it states: “Located in the heart of Southport, the Chapel Street Development is an exciting project that transforms a former BHS department store into 30 high-quality apartments. The development will feature 27 two-bedroom and 3 one-bedroom apartments, designed to meet modern living standards in a prime town centre location.
“In addition to the residential units, the development includes 4 large commercial units generating a strong rental income, with potential for growth. With its prime location on Southport’s main shopping street, Chapel Street, this project offers a unique opportunity for both investors and future residents.”
APG is run by experienced developer Thomas Muir and is responsible for a host of projects across the north of England. The real estate development company specialises in “acquiring, managing, and developing high-quality residential apartment blocks as investment-grade assets” and has so far delivered more than 500 residential units for sale and rent with a value exceeding £30 million.
It estimates that once complete, the redeveloped building will have a value of £5.2m.
The long awaited progress have been welcomed by senior Sefton Council figures who have seen efforts to restore Cambridge Arcade frustrated by the decrepit state of the building,
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, told The Southport Lead: “Southport town centre has a range of stunning architectural assets that include the former BHS building, which is itself a key part of the Cambridge Arcade in a prominent town centre.
“We are pleased to see the building’s new owners making progress and sharing ambition for both he asset and our town centre.
“The council’s initial work focused on the arcade’s canopy to address issues such as leaks and damaged glazing and once the refurbishment work is complete, we will be able to extend our repairs already carried out to the roof to the remainder of the arcade.”
Authorities’ make trial commentary plea
Tomorrow sees the start of the trial of Axel Rudakubana who is accused of killing Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King as well as attempting to kill a further eight children and two adults. The 18-year-old is also accused of production of ricin and possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual.
So far, Rudakubana has failed to speak at any of his court hearings and the trial is set to see national and international attention return to Southport. Due to last four to six weeks, the hearings will no doubt be hugely traumatic experiences for those associated with the case.
Ahead of the opening, warnings have been issued against speculating or discussing the trials on social media in a bid to prevent the trial being jeopordised. The Attorney General - the Government’s chief legal adviser - this week said: “You may be in risk of being in contempt of court if you publish material or comment online that is inaccurate, unfair, or involves discussion or commentary which could influence the jury’s deliberations.
“This includes anything that asserts or assumes, expressly or implicitly, the guilt of Axel Rudakubana. This is due to the risk of potentially jeopardising the criminal trial.
“The Contempt of Court Act 1981 seeks to prevent any interference with the administration of justice and the right to a fair trial.”
Writing in The House magazine, Southport MP Patrick Hurley shared similar pleas towards fellow MP, requesting that they do not get involved in sharing rumours or speculation.
He said: “Suffice to say that Southport is a town still grieving, in the slow process of recovering from such a shock, and that the wheels of justice must be allowed to turn.
“As we begin to move to the next step of recovery, ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system and the forthcoming trial is of paramount importance. It is in no one’s interest to jeopardise an ongoing investigation with rumours and conspiracy theories on the internet. All these comments do is risk prejudicing the trial and risk seeing justice denied.”
Social care costs force council into huge borrowing
By Elliot Jesset
Sefton Council is overspending more than £2.5m on children’s services every month as the crisis in social care and local government finances continues to bite. Since September last year and over the course of four months, the overspend forecast for children’s services in the borough has increased by more than £10m – a 290% rise from £3.5m to £13.7m.
The latest figures were presented at Sefton Council’s overview and scrutiny committee which met at Bootle Town Hall to approve of the revenue and capital budget update (RCBU) report. The RCBU detailed the council’s current position relating to the 2024/25 revenue budget and noted the financial risks associated with its implementation.
In February 2024, Sefton Council approved a budget for the financial year 2024/25 – identifying the portfolio of local authority services and recommended the resources needed to deliver them over the course of the financial year. As with previous budget reports, it outlined the ‘inherent financial risks’ relating to the cost of adult social care, children’s services and Education Excellence (home to school transport).
Last night’s RCBU report is the sixth of the council’s monthly budget monitoring reports for 2024/25 and provides a continuing review of forecasts for all services, including the pressures that have materialised since the budget was set. Nonetheless, Sefton Council’s astronomical overspend in the children’s services budget is just one example amongst many as local authorities across the country continue to struggle with this issue.
A report published by the Local Government Information Unit on local government finance showed spending on children’s services, including support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is the biggest short-term pressure facing local authorities struggling to balance their budgets.
Sefton Council finance officer, Paul Riley added some context to the overspend and identified the high needs budget (HNB) issue and what resources are being used to cover the costs. In November, the LDRS reported Sefton Council’s deficit position has been increasing over a number of years due to rising demand and shortfall of funding from central government. At a cabinet meeting in July, the deficit position reported to the local authority was £38m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Mr Riley said: “We’ve had to use our cash balances which have effectively been used covering the overspend, and we’re actually now having to go out and start to borrow to fund some of this. So potentially, you are talking about a few million pounds worth of additional interest or treasury management costs.
“It’s something that the council and other councils have made representations to the government and previous governments to say, this isn’t just a dedicated schools grant issue, it’s now a general council resource issue. But again, that’s one of the things that the government have said will be part of a review.”
News in headlines
🌊 New plan to tackle high risk flooding areas in Crossens (Liverpool Echo)
💷 Communities to benefit from money seized from criminals by Merseyside Police (Stand up for Southport)
🧑⚖️ Southport rioter released from prison just three months into 18 month sentence (Liverpool Echo)
🍻 Council funding deal secures rescue of historic seaside bar complex (Business Desk)
Many thanks for reading this latest edition of The Southport Lead. If you haven’t already, please do sign our petition to Save Southport Pier and also spread the word about The Southport Lead too.
If you have something you think we should know about we’re on southport@thelead.uk and now to our what’s on feature, which is only for paid subscribers. So if you can please consider a paid subscription by tapping below to receive Andrew’s guide each week and help’s support us to bring The Southport Lead to your inbox every Wednesday and Sunday too
What’s on this week
By Andrew Brown
Some people think turkey and pantos are just for Christmas - but not in Southport!
The much-anticipated All Souls Cinderella pantomime has now opened at The Atkinson to rave reviews. Here are some of the many things you can enjoy in Southport this week:
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Southport Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.