When you search for Southport on Google, the second suggested question is ‘Does Southport have a beach?’ Sefton council are apparently keen on raising the town’s nautical credentials somewhat.
The park, which is expected to cost around £40 million, is a collaboration with Go Surf and was announced last week. A spokesperson for the Australian company said the complex would be “far more than just a place for catching waves”, and early renderings seem to back them up.
When it arrives, Southport Cove Resort will feature a 250m-long beach, along with a 360-degree boardwalk, a wellness and spar facility and four star accommodation. Indoor leisure facilities, restaurants and cafes are also planned.
If this all sounds a little grand for £40m, then you’re not the only one. Projects like this are notorious for running over budget, but Sefton council might be in luck. The council intends to include the plans in Southport’s bid for a slice of the UK government’s Towns Fund. The fund runs to over three and a half billion in total – even a sliver of which would help the project out immensely. The council is planning to submit a bid for £25m, which seems reasonable considering the overall size of the fund but is still a bit too grand to be considered a sliver.
If that wasn’t enough, Go Surf are estimating that the project will give an annual boost of £20 million to the local economy, creating over 120 new jobs and bringing in around 150,000 visitors a year.
The resort should be open all year round as well, for the particularly masochistic surfers among you. The site of the resort will be adjacent to the old Southport Bathing Lake, which was shuttered in the 1980s.
Surfing can be a pretty expensive hobby, so I’d probably stick to the spa if it were me. But if you’ve got the cash to splash, then look no further than our very own surfing gear guide.
