Sainsbury’s opens new store at Meols Cop Retail Park

Sainsbury’s has now opened a new 80,000 sq ft supermarket at Meols Cop Retail Park, Southport. 

The redevelopment of the site took ten years, and the overall cost of the scheme was over £30m.

The scheme compromised the extensive redevelopment of an existing retail park with a new purpose-built store and car park. New front facades were added to three retail units occupied by Hobbycraft, Currys and PureGym.

Due to the poor ground conditions, over one thousand 20m long precast concrete-driven piles were installed under the store and the car park. There were extensive highways works for a new signalled entrance into the retail park.

Phase 2 of the retail park development will begin later in 2024, which will include a refurbishment of the remaining units, and new “black top” of the car park.

Mark Burns, director, building and project consultancy, Savills, said: “Our retail agency originated the idea to develop a Sainsbury’s supermarket in this location back in 2009, and UBS signed an Agreement to Lease, subject to planning and Vacant Possession of a Homebase unit.

“All these years on, it’s fantastic to see the supermarket open for business, but we do need to mention that this scheme came to fruition as a result of the fantastic work carried out by Howard Morgan, who led the Savills team until his untimely death in January 2021. A commemorative plaque has been installed outside the store as a mark of respect.”