Conservation and Heritage
Sefton’s heritage is important to its identity. Southport’s cast iron verandahs, the shrimper’s cottages in Churchtown, Formby’s pinewoods and Bootle’s industrial areas and docks are integral to the character of the towns and villages. The distinctiveness of Sefton’s towns and villages is important to maintain to ensure that these areas continue to be desirable places to live, visit and work.
Sefton has 25 conservation areas, approximately 560 listed buildings (encompassing over 800 individual buildings), 5 Registered Historic Parks and Gardens and 13 Scheduled Monuments. These are important on a national scale as examples of their type. Well known architects and landscape designers have designed some of Sefton’s historic buildings, parks and gardens. Others are the best surviving examples of the local vernacular architecture, that is buildings built by early residents using locally available materials designed to withstand the local climate and support local industries. All of Sefton’s designated heritage is protected by the Council both for their own sake and for their cultural, historic, educational and economic value.
The Conservation team also lead on projects to enhance the built environment and historic buildings across Sefton. Between 2019 and 2024, the National Lottery Heritage Fund is investing up to £1.6 million in grants for heritage buildings within Southport’s Lord Street and Promenade Conservation Areas through the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.