A leading campaigner for the restoration and rejuvenation of Southport has called for council bosses and developers to unite to preserve the town’s unique heritage.
Cllr David Barton has lobbied for Sefton Council to support plans which utilise brownfield sites over greenfield ones and called for additional efforts to encourage the preservation and enhancement of the environment and period-style architecture.
He is calling on all property developers to seek to develop desolate land across the borough and wherever possible restore lost period features, be these located in conservation areas or not.
Cllr Barton has written to the Minister for Housing and Planning Alok Sharma MP, who has agreed to consider a change in national planning policy to back his call.
Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward, said: “I have continually lobbied both local and central government since 2015 regarding a better “local plan” for housing, namely the utilisation of brownfield sites over greenfield ones.
“This has included trying to find more progressive ways of maintaining and wherever possible enhancing period style architecture, traditionally a part of local communities across various parts of the Sefton Borough region.
“I want Sefton Council to encourage and adopt a more traditionally and aesthetically appealing approach towards planning applications that seek to protect, and wherever possible, enhance period style properties such as those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras.”
Cllr Barton said that seeking to make the planning process easier for anyone wishing to construct or restore properties, is paramount if Southport is to retain its signature Victorian character which people of all ages regard it highly for.
He said: “We must all do our part and seek to incentivise those in leading positions to recognise this heritage, which is of local and indeed national importance.
“Whilst great headway in revivalism is being made in other areas, Southport especially has a great way to go as clearly evidenced by the juxtaposition of later style 1960s architecture with classical construction seen along Lord Street.
“During restoration, like-for like materials should be permitted, wherever visually identical yet more structurally resistant to the elements, for instance woodwork on traditional style bay windows or gables.
“This should be meaningfully considered if Southport is to regain its former prominence as an investor capital town and major shopping area again worthy of attracting major high street names.
“Simultaneously where land use has become difficult owing to listed status, this should be revised accordingly so as to prevent any such buildings as the Grand Casino on Lord Street from falling into otherwise avoidable decline.
“This building itself from my research has had many retail offers over the years, but these have all stalled owing to strict planning parameters which aren’t always necessarily in the best interests of conservationists or developers alike. “
Cllr Barton is encouraging anyone with potential land sites to get in touch and has reminded developers of the need to put full and utmost consideration into supporting the local communities when they undertake building works, especially in quiet residential roads and streets.
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