Plans to transform the former offices of the Southport Visiter have been submitted to Sefton Council.
The historic building on Tulketh Street in Southport had been home to the resort’s local paper from 1899 until the office’s closure in 2014.
The Southport Visiter was founded by Robert Johnson who came to Southport from his home in York in 1837 attracted by the town’s sea air.
The first edition of the Visiter was published in 1844 at the price of threepence. The newspaper was later bought out by Reach PLC with the offices home to generations of journalists until the closure of the offices in 2014.
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The building then lay empty for eight years, during which time it was subject to reported vandalism in 2018, before being sold in 2022.
A planning application has now been submitted by the building’s new owners to transform the former newspaper offices into three separate units in a move which the applicant, Walford Ltd, said would ensure the “derelict and vandalized property brings new life and vitality to the surrounding area.”
According to planning documents submitted by the developer, the goal of the building’s transformation would be to “achieve a design that respects the building’s history while enhancing its functionality and aesthetic appeal” and have “minimal impact” on the building’s design and heritage.
As well as subdividing the building into three distinct units, minor changes are proposed to the outside of the building using a design which the applicant states would “seamlessly integrate with the existing architectural features.”
The application is currently open for comments and can be viewed on the council’s online planning portal.
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