The Promenade is the best option to add a safe, continuous and joined‑up cycle route can be delivered for this area.
Other suggested routes closer to the Marine Lake are not feasible because the land is privately owned and will be heavily used by pedestrians visiting the waterfront, Pier and light‑show area.
The Promenade is wide enough to safely accommodate all uses (including traffic, parking, coach access, walking space and a cycle lane) while creating a connected active‑travel network, like the Trans Pennine Trail and other cycling routes nearby. It links the town centre, seafront and new Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC).
A cycle lane in the centre of the road, where there is currently a grass verge, means it can provide a continuous cycle path without interrupting ‘kerbside activity’ (the footway, coach drop-offs, hotel servicing, taxi pick-up and drop-offs and general on-street parking for the MLEC and Southport Hotel.)
With the cycle lane in the middle of the road, it keeps the pavement free from cyclists and reduces conflicts between vehicles pulling in/out or pedestrians stepping into the road.
Reducing conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists is designed to improve safety for all users.
The change also encourages an increase in cyclists through creating a segregated cycle lane. Research shows that separated, continuous infrastructure increases cycling levels. Protected cycle lanes are associated with around 70% more cycling activity.
This development of this project is funded through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). It is proposed to be delivered in the Transport for City Region (TCR) programme, which requires investment in active‑travel infrastructure such as walking and cycling improvements.
It is a funding expectation to include segregated cycle facilities. This also aligns with wider national policy, which requires local authorities to prioritise sustainable transport.
Including a safe, dedicated cycle lane therefore ensures the scheme meets both regional funding requirements and national transport objectives.
The Government’s Gear Change strategy sets out a national commitment to delivering thousands of miles of protected cycle routes and embedding cycling into transport planning (Department for Transport, 2020). The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) also requires developments and transport schemes to promote walking and cycling as part of a sustainable transport system.
Southport does have an older‑than‑average population, but older residents can and do benefit from well‑designed cycling and walking infrastructure, just as younger people do.
Cycling already takes place locally for example, counts on Hoghton Street records around 100 cycle movements per day each way.
The scheme is also not only a cycle lane.
Upgraded smoother surfaces and improved crossings provide easier and safer walking environments for those with limited mobility or who are older and more unsteady on their feet.
Evidence shows that safe, accessible design improvements benefit everyone of all ages and abilities.
Additionally, research consistently shows that segregated, continuous cycle routes are most likely to encourage uptake with less-confident riders, children, women and older adults. Isolated painted cycle lanes are less effective than segregated, continuous routes.
Therefore, providing safe, continuous, low-impact cycling and walking routes in Southport is particularly important because it enables older residents (and younger people) to travel in a way that is joint-friendly, supports independence and is beneficial to long-term health.
Evidence shows that when people are provided with safe, direct and comfortable routes, many people do switch to walking and cycling, particularly for short local journeys.
Southport train station is a short 15 minute walk away. With improvements to the surrounding public realm, the aim is to make is easier and nicer for more people who can, and want to, travel by a mix of public transport and active travel to do so when visiting Southport.
Well-designed routes are needed for many people to make the switch to walking or cycling.
Local examples such as Story house in Chester and Shakespeare North in Prescot have demonstrated wider improvements to the surrounding public spaces and streets. This includes the transformation of Prescot’s town centre and Chester’s Northgate area. These cases show a clear precedent: investment in cultural hubs and their surrounding public realm creates the conditions for increased footfall and patronage.
Removing some of the turning movements allows the junction to be made smaller and simpler, which reduces the number of signal phases at the traffic light and therefore shortens waiting times for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists.
Traffic modelling undertaken for this junction shows no significant increase in congestion or queueing because of the proposed change.
Reducing turning movements also helps limit unnecessary traffic travelling through the very centre of Southport, particularly around some of the town’s most important public and civic spaces. Modern sat‑nav systems and everyday driver behaviour mean that most rerouting happens earlier in the journey, so the removal of these turns does not create substantial additional mileage or delays.
Overall, simplifying the junction improves safety, reduces conflict points, and supports a better balance between vehicle movement and the public realm for all.
The changes are designed specifically to improve safety at this junction.
This is done by:
- Removing turning movements. The layout becomes more predictable and significantly reduces the number of places where pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles come into conflict.
- Introducing shorter, simpler crossing distances. This means people spend less time in the road, and so exposure to risk is reduced.
- Simplified junction movements help drivers understand where they should be in the road and so reduces hesitation and sudden movements, which can be dangerous.
Overall, by simplifying the layout, reducing turning conflicts, and improving separation between all users, the redesigned junction is intended to be safer, calmer and easier to navigate for all users.
Where it is safe and practical to do so, parking has been retained on the southbound carriageway of the Promenade.
To make the street safer for all users, the scheme introduces new pedestrian crossings, which requires some reorganisation of spaces. Along this section there are 17 on‑street remaining spaces, as well as coach and taxi drop-off bays. The MLEC development will provide a 142 space pay and display car park, which is designed to accommodate visitor demand.
Independent studies of UK town centres show no clear link between parking supply and economic performance. The studies show that footfall, place quality (how nice a place it is to be in) and accessibility are far stronger drivers of business success.
Well‑designed streets with safe crossings and good walking and cycling access supports local trade with nearby off‑street and on‑street parking continuing to meet the needs of those who need (or choose) to drive.
The funding used for this project is capital funding that is ring‑fenced specifically for transport and active‑travel improvements, provided through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport for City Region (TCR) programme. This means it cannot legally be spent on other council services or projects unrelated to new transport infrastructure.
TCR funding has been allocated all the city regions in England by the government, such as Liverpool and Manchester city regions.
Large projects like the Promenade improvements and the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) need to be planned well in advance, so the work can be delivered in the right order and avoid unnecessary disruption later.
Completing the Promenade improvements before the MLEC opens ensures we won’t have to dig up the road or carry out major works immediately after the brand‑new events centre is finished.
A new contractor for the MLEC is now in place, and progress on its delivery is moving forward. It is important that the setting, access and public realm around the MLEC are high‑quality, safe and accessible from day one, supporting visitors, businesses and residents.
The planting is not only decorative, it will also help manage surface water as part of sustainable drainage.
Because of the coastal location, the proposed planting will be hardy coastal grasses and low maintenance species that are well suited to the local climate and salt exposure.
The plants also help to manage surface water as part of sustainable urban drainage, slowing the water runoff and reducing pressure on drainage systems.
This part of the design ensures the landscape is resilient to weather, long lasting, and meets best practice around guidance for climate-resilient streets.
Additionally, they will improve the look and feel of the promenade, and make the area nicer to be in.
The scheme has been designed with accessibility as a priority. Disabled parking has been added in close proximity to the MLEC development.
The proposals also add:
- more pedestrian crossings,
- dropped kerbs,
- tactile paving and
- controlled crossing facilities.
This makes it easier and safer for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, those with visual impairments and older residents to move around the area.
Additional seating and resting points are being incorporated to support people who may need to pause and rest on their journey.
This area of the Promenade already has high footfall, and numbers are expected to grow with the restoration of the Pier, improved seafront destinations, and the opening of the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC).
Adding more crossings will allow people to move safely and conveniently between attractions, parking areas and the waterfront whilst reducing the chances for near misses with vehicles.
The new crossings have been positioned along pedestrian desire lines, meaning they are placed where people want to cross and improve accessibility for all users.
To ensure people can also safely cross the cycle lanes, the design provides:
- dedicated controlled crossing points,
- clear surface markings,
- colour contrast and visibility.
Where crossings are integrated into junctions, cyclists will have a green light priority, preventing conflicts with traffic. The overall approach creates safer, shorter and more direct routes for walking while ensuring the cycle lane is crossed only at protected locations.
The scheme removes some turning movements to simplify the junctions and improve safety, but it does not block access to any destination. Traffic modelling shows no significant increase in congestion.
The road layout changes are expected to result in a very small increase in journey distance for a limited number of trips. Modern sat‑nav systems also help drivers reroute earlier in their journey, especially if routing from the wider Southport and Ainsdale area, meaning any diversions are absorbed across the wider network.
For east–west travel, several alternative routes remain available. To the north, motorists can use Seabank Road, Leicester Street or Park Road. To the south, alternatives include Coronation Walk, Kingsway and Duke Street. These roads already function as established east–west connections and will continue to provide reliable access across the town.
Importantly, reducing turning movements helps limit unnecessary through‑traffic in the heart of the town centre, protecting key civic spaces and creating a safer, more pleasant environment for residents, visitors and those accessing the Pier, the seafront and the new MLEC.
Safety is a core requirement of the scheme, and the design will undergo multiple independent Road Safety Audits (RSAs) at each stage of development and again prior to construction.
The proposals are:
- Reviewed by Active Travel England, the national statutory body responsible for ensuring that walking and cycling schemes meet high safety and design standards
- Developed in accordance with Manual for Streets, Highway Design Standards, and the national cycling design guidance LTN 1/20, all of which set out the principles for safe, accessible and user‑friendly streets for all modes.
These checks and standards ensure the final design is safe, clearly prioritised, and easy to navigate for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
The funding for this scheme comes from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport for City Region (TCR) programme, which is ringfenced specifically for transport led regeneration and active travel improvements.
This funding cannot be used on fixing the pier or given to businesses. It is an investment in infrastructure that supports the regeneration of Southport. It supports the wider regeneration associated with the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC), the seafront and the town’s visitor economy.
This project supports other regeneration efforts in the town centre and along the waterfront.
The Promenade may feel adequate today, but improvements are needed to ensure it remains safe, attractive and fit for the future.
We understand that many people feel the Promenade works well for them now. However, the area is expected to see significantly higher footfall in the coming years due to the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC), the restoration of the Pier, and wider seafront improvements. These changes mean the existing layout will no longer provide the level of safety, accessibility and capacity required for the number of people using the space.
The current street design also pre‑dates modern standards for walking, cycling, accessibility, and road safety.
National guidance such as Manual for Streets, LTN 1/20, and the Government’s Gear Change strategy requires local authorities to improve streets, so they are:
- safer,
- more inclusive and
- easier to navigate, especially for disabled users, older residents and families.
The proposed upgrades make crossings safer, improve accessibility, enhance the public realm, and provide space for active travel—ensuring the Promenade functions effectively as Southport continues to grow and change.
The intention of the scheme is to strengthen, not weaken, Southport’s visitor appeal.
Improving the Promenade is a key part of preparing an expected increase of visitor numbers for the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC), the restoration of the Pier, and wider seafront investment.
Well-designed public spaces with safe crossings, attractive planting, improved accessibility and better walking routes are internationally recognised as features that enhance visitor destinations rather than deter them.
Evidence shows that high‑quality environments encourage people to stay longer and explore more on foot, which benefits local businesses and the wider visitor economy.
Active‑travel‑friendly streets and improved public realm also support tourism by making it easier for people of all ages and abilities to move between attractions.
Studies consistently find that investing in good‑quality walking and cycling environments helps create vibrant, welcoming destinations with stronger economic performance and increased footfall.