Southport is set to have its first purpose-built incubator spaces for start-up businesses.

Forming part of Southport’s Town Deal Bid, Crown Buildings, located within one of Southport’s famous grand shopping arcades, Cambridge Walks, is proposed to undergo extensive refurbishment.

Repurposing an historic, empty property to create a new business incubator space to support Southport's emerging creative, digital and tech sector, the working title for the space is the ‘Enterprise Arcade’.

The Town Deal bid proposes to acquire and repurpose one of the town’s former department stores. The ‘Enterprise Store’ has been designed as move-on space from the Enterprise Arcade, supporting further growth and diversification of Southport’s economy, and bringing new footfall to a declining area of Southport’s town centre.

The near 3,000m2 flexible workspace, allowing for event and networking space to encourage cross collaboration, innovation and business growth, can house around 54 Creative, Digital and Tech focused SMEs in co-working and private office spaces.

These two distinct and exciting projects will support the development of a focused Creative and Digital District in the town to play host to a vibrant cluster and community of businesses and like-minded individuals.

The redeveloped Southport Market, near to the Enterprise Arcade, will in turn benefit from custom generated by the new business hubs, playing host to informal meet ups and socials which are known to be vital to the success of these collaborative business spaces.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:
“I’m delighted that, as part of the Southport Town Deal Bid, we will be able to repurpose and fill key empty properties in the Town Centre attracting more people to work in the town, supporting the retail and hospitality sector and providing more reasons for young people to stay and work in Southport.

“The Enterprise Arcade and Enterprise Store will offer a space for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, creating a community for our existing and future talent.

“The designs won’t be like any other traditional workplace setting and will capture Southport’s distinctive entrepreneurial character.

“Together with the redevelopment of Southport Market, all three projects will work in tandem bringing new uses to underused and vacant buildings while generating substantial footfall to the area.

“Our bid has now been submitted and we have done everything in our power to make Southport an attractive proposition for the Government to invest in. Without Government support these fantastic schemes won’t go ahead. We eagerly await their response.”

Some confusion here.
That image is the empty site on the corner of Eastbank St and King St.

Originally Posted by Lorquinho

Some confusion here.
That image is the empty site on the corner of Eastbank St and King St.

Yes, that's where McDonalds used to be.

I think, by mentioning Cambridge Walks, they may be confusing it with the old BHS building, although the side entrance to Cambridge Walks is on Eastbank Street opposite the Crown Building.

Doesn't exactly inspire you with confidence though.

Originally Posted by Lamparilla

Yes, that's where McDonalds used to be.

I think, by mentioning Cambridge Walks, they may be confusing it with the old BHS building, although the side entrance to Cambridge Walks is on Eastbank Street opposite the Crown Building.

Doesn't exactly inspire you with confidence though.

Not just mentioning Cambridge Walks, going as far as actually saying:-

'Forming part of Southport’s Town Deal Bid, Crown Buildings, located within one of Southport’s famous grand shopping arcades, Cambridge Walks, is proposed to undergo extensive refurbishment.'

Hopefully it'll be a success though, and may tie in with the Market development as well?

Why wouldn't 54 businesses want some car parking and commercial vehicle access?

The famously empty Cambridge Walks is not an attractive site for business.

A more realistic proposal would be great.

According to Google Crown Buildings are on Liverpool Road!

There is the Sefton Council One Stop place in Cambridge Arcade are they referring to this?

Did anybody understand what that was all about? Any useful information was lost in a welter of confusing project titles, anachronisms and gobbledygook mixed in with poor local geography.

Has some one took over the old Mc Donalds building?

Originally Posted by gsgsgs

According to Google Crown Buildings are on Liverpool Road!

There is the Sefton Council One Stop place in Cambridge Arcade are they referring to this?

Crown Buildings is the council offices on Eastbank Street above the entrance to Cambridge Walks but certainly not part of Cambridge Walks.
The proposals relate to there and to the former McDonalds building.
The article is a dogs breakfast, no wonder people are confused.

Are the designers based in Liverpool ? Answers the question as to why the photos in this posting are totally wrong,as they've probably never set foot within the boundaries of Southport to look at the proposed sites.

Originally Posted by SteveandLois

Are the designers based in Liverpool ? Answers the question as to why the photos in this posting are totally wrong,as they've probably never set foot within the boundaries of Southport to look at the proposed sites.

The article is about 2 separate buildings, one of which is pictured.
The Enterprise Arcade will be in Crown Buildings. The Enterprise Store will be in the former MacDonalds pictured.

Don't let a poorly composed article detract from an opportunity to voice some much needed negativity!

We need a multi store car park, with shops on the old Mc Donalds and the market.

As an a side. Won't the Mc Donald's building have a conservation order on it?

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Don't let a poorly composed article detract from an opportunity to voice some much needed negativity!

It's hard to garner enthusiasm for a project that is clearly promoted by clueless fools.

local says:

It's hard to garner enthusiasm for a project that is clearly promoted by clueless fools.

Meet the Town Deal Board
Robert Agsteribbe, Agnes Ng, Alex Hatchman, Andrew Booth, David Head, Damien Moore MP, Dwayne Johnson, Greta Fenney, Rob Fletcher, Ian Raikes, James Brayshaw, Mark Basnett, Mark Lawler, Marion Atkinson, Michelle Brabner, Norman Wallis, Peter Hampson, Rob Anderson, Sophie Bevan, Susannah Porter, Therese Patten