A new image has been released showing how 'Southport Cove' could look - including a new leisure beach and surfing pool.
The plans, submitted by Go Surf and released in 2020, would bring a new leisure beach, surf pool and spa to Princes Park in Southport, costing £75m from private investment.
Since the initial plans were released in October 2020, co-founder of Go Surf, Tony Howard, discussed the vision of the plans.
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Tony is born and bred in the Mersey town but left when he turned in 18. He made a permanent return in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hit.
The plans for Princes Park have come from the history of the town, with Tony and his cofounder Tamlyn Stone saying they have tapped into the grand history of the sea bathing lake that once occupied Ocean Plaza.
The location of the new leisure beach aims to draw on this, as well as putting an emphasis on health and wellbeing.
Tony said: “Having lived away for a number of years, I returned to my hometown in March 2020, looking upon the waterfront and town with fresh eyes. To have so much heritage from a town’s glorious past still intact is remarkable, many other historic seaside towns look longingly on what remains in Southport.
“The waterfront has so much potential, but I believe it requires ambitious, modern-day attractions and experiences to appeal to a broader audience from all parts of the UK and perhaps beyond.”
“Our concept aligns with the town’s heritage, but it is reimagined in a very modern way. In 2019 the town attracted an impressive 9m visitors, of which most were day-trippers. More reasons to stay for longer are needed, and The Cove can help drive that.”
Tony said he is hopeful that the Cove could be open in the next three years.
The plans are currently at the pre-application stage, with the company hopeful of securing planning permission in the near future.
Tony said: “The Cove’s appeal, and even its very identity, will be more than what’s on offer within its boundaries. There is so much to offer in Southport and along our coastline – golf, kitesurfing, cycling, paddle-boarding, the amusement park, sand dunes, pinewoods, and the splendour of Lord Street, to name but a few.
“Southport is an incredible experiential destination, one which The Cove wishes to enhance and promote widely.”
He added: “Southport should continue to embrace its history whilst also learning from it. Success came from a clear understanding of its identity and a bucketful of ambition. The town has so much to be proud of, but perhaps the next level of transformation will only come from self-belief and being bold in delivery.”
Speaking to the ECHO in 2020, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Cllr Marion Atkinson, said: “Many people remember the much-loved open-air swimming bath on the seafront next to Princes Park closed its doors to the public for the very last time in 1989.“This project will bring back a viable facility, striking a balance between the memory of this well-loved former attraction and a new, modern, family-oriented offer that will be unique to the region.”
Sefton Council offered no further updates on the scheme.
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