A former travel agent could be transformed into a new pub in a bid to “breathe new life into the street”.
The Thomas Cook on Lord Street in Southport closed in 2019 after the company collapsed and has been vacant ever since. A planning application has now been submitted to Sefton Council to bring the dormant building back into use.
The application also includes the provision of outdoor seating and has been submitted by RLA Architects in Southport.
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The application said: "We are applying for a change of use to enable the unit to be occupied. There is a general need to re-generate town centres and Southport and Lord Street are no exception.
"Significant investment has been made to the entire building from 219-233 and it is essential that the unit is occupied as soon as possible to help breath new life into the street scene in this central Lord Street location.
"Lord Street is becoming an area for leisure rather than retail and this proposal will create an appropriate addition to the Conservation Area."
The business will be run as a wet bar and will not have a commercial kitchen. A tenant has been found for the site and the report said that it is important "the building has a meaningful use".
The report said: "We consider the proposal is generally in accordance with the need for greater flexibility for changes of use to allow a gradual regeneration of town centres given the challenges in the retail sector.
"This area of Lord Street is at the centre of Southport’s night-time economy and is largely occupied by commercial property. Easy access to public transport make it an ideal location for a leisure facility, and as the intended hours of operation are 10am – 1am, this unit will have an active frontage for most of the day."
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