About Invest Sefton

Sefton in Profile



The North West of England is blessed by some of the Country's most delightful locations not least of which is Sefton. The boroughs exceptional resources are bordered to the west by 22 miles of beautiful and ecologically important coastline, magnificent sand dunes, beaches, woodlands and wetlands presenting one of the most attractive places to live in in the UK. Rare species such as the natterjack toad, the sand lizard and the red squirrel beloved by Beatrix Potter can't all be wrong.

The boroughs principal towns, some recorded in the Domesday Book, include Bootle, Formby, Crosby and Maghull. In the North Southport's reputation as a classic English seaside resort is well known with its emphasis on the floral displays of the parks and gardens and the superb annual Southport Flower Show. The town enjoys a reputation for its top class shopping on the impressive Victorian boulevard of Lord Street. Along with this go the miles of golden sands.

To the south of the borough lies Bootle, the industrial and commercial heart of Sefton containing the real working Port of Liverpool and the most successful Freeport in the UK.

Formby, Crosby, Birkdale and Maghull are attractive residential areas on the outskirts of the Liverpool-Manchester conurbation, close to the sea and the countryside, and are typically some of the most desirable places to live in the North West.

Sefton is a Mecca for a wide range of leisure pursuits, the marine lake at Southport and Crosby Marina are venues for sailing, rowing and windsurfing. And for something a little less athletic relaxation can be found with bowls, croquet and tennis in the many fine parks and gardens. New multi million pound leisure and sports facilities abound along with multiplex cinemas and family entertainment complexes catering to residents and visitors alike.

The arts are by no means neglected, as you would expect from a borough that boasts the birthplaces of Dan Dare and the Mekon in Birkdale or AJP Taylor, one of the UK's most revered historians. Southport Arts Centre and the newly refurbished Southport Theatre provide a wide range of shows, concerts and plays, not to mention the rich cultural heritage of Liverpool on the doorstep. Turner prize winner Antony Gormley spectacular 'Another Place' installation on Crosby beach features 100 figures, naked and life-size, cast from the artist's own body. The figures have been installed along a 3km stretch of the coastline and are expected to bring an extra 600,000 extra visitors to the area.

Seftons proud sporting reputation is universally valued but remains, curiously, un-recognised. The borough hosts two of the world's truly most famous sporting events, the annual Grand National at Aintree Racecourse and the Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club one of only seven acknowledged venues for the universally recognised ultimate prize in golf. If that is not enough there are five other championship golf courses in Sefton making this section of English coastline one of the most attractive areas for quality golf anywhere in the world.

For the spectator top class soccer, cricket, and both codes of rugby are easily available within striking distance of Sefton. You are close to the game once described as designed for gentlemen but played by thugs Anfield and Goodison Park, the homes of Liverpool and Everton football clubs, while Lancashire play county cricket at Southport during the football closed season. On the other hand the game for thugs played by gentlemen can be seen at Waterloo Rugby Union Club, in Blundellsands and Super League Rugby can be seen a short hop down the motorway at St. Helens, Widnes and Wigan.

Sefton is easily accessible by road, rail, sea and air, both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester International Airport, half and three quarters of an hour away respectively, are very convenient. If you add to this the excellent access to the national motorway network via the M57 and M58, which also brings the National Parks of Snowdonia, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District within very easy reach you have a richly attractive package. Commuting within the borough could not be simpler either with regular electric rail services running through the Borough from North to South and a wide ranging and comprehensive bus service.

New residents can join the many former top sporting stars such as Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen, who continue to call Sefton home long after their careers require it. A major benefit of living in the borough is the wide range of affordable and good quality housing in the towns, suburbs and villages with properties ideal for the first time buyer and ranging up to luxury houses in some of the most sought after residential areas on Merseyside and rural areas, the seaside and the countryside never far away..

Sefton, within Merseyside's boundaries currently benefits from the highest levels of support for business available from both UK government and European Union. Sefton is designated a "Development Area" by the Department of Trade and Industry whilst Merseyside has European Union Objective One status, which means that over £840 million of European funds are being pumped into the local economy. In South Sefton a £20 million Single Regeneration Budget is providing funding over a 7 year period, which began in 2000.

Seftons profile is reflected by statistics that show over 75% of the jobs in the borough are in the service sector and an adaptable and skilled workforce, that have an acknowledged excellent labour relations record. The area boasts productivity 12% higher than the national average and very competitive wage levels that make Sefton an exceptionally attractive location to investors.

Population: 287,700
Area: 15,054 hectares (37,200 acres)
GVA: £2.861 Billion (2002;Source:Office For National Statistics)