Bootle Golf Course Regeneration Plans Submitted to Sefton Council 2026

Key Points

• A planning application has been submitted for a leisure-led development on empty land adjacent to Bootle Golf Course.
• The proposed location is situated on the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road in Bootle.
• The project includes a modern clubhouse, hotel, podia courts, five-a-side pitches, as well as facilities for leisure, community, and creativity purposes.
• There are designated locations for podcasting within the plans.
• The Sefton Council partnership with Lumira Group from East Sussex was announced in March 2026.
• The Lumira Group is owned by the former Everton FC striker Victor Anichebe.
• This partnership intends to bring approximately £20m of private investments to Bootle.
• It is claimed that the scheme would provide training and employment opportunities not only during the construction period but afterwards as well.
• Affordable green fee prices for the current members, local residents, junior players, and pensioners over 65 years old are also planned.
• Public rights of way will be preserved, while site security and facility improvements are under discussion.
• Residents have an opportunity to view the plans and submit their comments during the planning procedure.
• The development is still dependent on obtaining all necessary planning permission and approvals.

Sefton Council (Liverpool standard) October 15, 2026 — A planning application has been submitted for a leisure-led regeneration scheme on vacant land beside Bootle Golf Course, advancing a proposed development that Sefton Council says could bring about £20m of private investment into the area.

As reported by Neil Hodgson of The Business Desk, the application concerns land at the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road, next to Bootle Golf Course. The proposals include a modern clubhouse, a hotel, padel courts, five-a-side pitches and a range of leisure, community and creative facilities, including dedicated podcast spaces.

The planning submission represents the next stage of a partnership between Sefton Council and Lumira Group, which was announced in March 2026. Lumira Group is led by former Everton FC striker Victor Anichebe and is based in East Sussex.

Sefton Council says the proposed development would create a “high quality leisure destination” while expanding activities and opportunities available to local people. The council also states that the scheme is intended to support regeneration, attract private-sector investment and create new opportunities for local communities.

What facilities are proposed beside Bootle Golf Course?

The submitted plans focus on a currently vacant site at the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road. According to Sefton Council and The Business Desk, the development would include:

• A modern clubhouse for Bootle Golf Course.
• A hotel.
• Padel courts.
• Five-a-side football pitches.
• Leisure, community and creative facilities.
• Dedicated podcast spaces.

A separate planning record listed by Sefton Council’s planning portal describes proposals for seven padel tennis courts and one football pitch, together with enclosure boards, synthetic playing surfaces, canopies, lighting, a parking area and associated works. The record shows the application was received on September 25, 2026 and remains pending.

The wider scheme also includes improvements connected with the golf course. Sefton Council says the council and Lumira Group will explore a future management agreement for Bootle Golf Course, which could lead to substantial improvements at the facility.

Why is the Bootle Golf Course scheme significant?

The application is significant because it moves the proposed regeneration from an announced partnership into the formal planning process. Sefton Council says the development would represent a major investment in Bootle, subject to approval.

As reported by The Business Desk, the council’s partnership with Lumira Group aims to bring around £20m of private investment into Bootle. The council says its priority was to identify a partner that shared its ambitions for the town and would deliver wider benefits for local communities.

Sefton Council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said submitting the planning application was “an important step in bringing forward our vision for this site and securing significant investment for Bootle”.

She added:

“What makes this proposal particularly exciting is the breadth and quality of what is being offered.”

Cllr Atkinson said that, alongside a new clubhouse and an improved golf course offer, there would be new sports, leisure and community facilities that could benefit local people “for years to come”.

What has Victor Anichebe said about the Bootle plans?

Victor Anichebe, who heads Lumira Group, said the company was pleased to reach the planning stage and looked forward to engaging with local people as the process progressed.

As reported by The Business Desk, Anichebe said:

“Our ambition remains to create a destination that combines high quality leisure facilities with meaningful opportunities for the local community, while supporting jobs, investment and long term growth in Bootle.”

He added:

“We share Sefton Council’s view on the importance of partnership working, and we share the council’s enthusiasm for Bootle and its future.”

Anichebe is a former Everton striker. Sefton Council’s own account of the partnership says officers were approached in 2025 by Anichebe, then of Lumira Group Holdings, who expressed an interest in working with the council to deliver long-term investment.

How will local people be affected by the proposals?

Sefton Council says local people are central to the proposals. The council states that the development should create training and employment opportunities for local residents during the construction phase and beyond.

The council also says it wants new facilities to remain affordable and accessible for local young people. It says Bootle Golf Course should continue to operate as an affordable destination for existing users and residents.

According to the council, green fees for existing members, local residents, junior players and people aged over 65 would remain affordable. Any future changes would be subject to the council’s established fees and charges process.

Existing public rights of way would also be protected. Sefton Council says improvements to site security and facilities are being considered as part of the wider vision.

Can residents comment on the Bootle Golf Course plans?

Yes. Sefton Council says residents will have the opportunity to view the proposals and provide feedback as part of the planning process.

The council says the proposals remain subject to the necessary planning permissions and approvals. It adds that, subject to those approvals, the development would support wider ambitions to drive regeneration, attract private-sector investment and create new opportunities for local communities.

When the partnership was first announced in March 2026, Sefton Council said local consultation would form part of the planning process. The council also said the aim was to progress discussions and early phases of work during 2026.

What happens next for the Bootle development?

The next stage is consideration of the planning application by Sefton Council. Residents, golf-course users and other interested parties will be able to review the proposals and submit feedback through the planning process.

If approval is granted, the scheme could proceed towards delivery. Sefton Council says the development would represent a major investment in the area and support its wider regeneration ambitions.

The council has not announced a construction start date in the latest planning announcement. In March, it said that, subject to the appropriate permissions and approvals, works could commence later in 2026.

Background of the development

Sefton Council announced its partnership with Lumira Group on March 16, 2026. The partnership was intended to transform a vacant site next to Bootle Golf Course and, in the longer term, the golf course itself.

At that stage, the council said Lumira Group would lease the unused land at the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road to deliver a new leisure development. The council also said Lumira Group was set to bring approximately £20m of private investment to transform what it described as an important community asset.

The initial announcement said the proposals could include a modern clubhouse, hotel, padel courts and other leisure and community facilities. It also confirmed that affordable access, local consultation and local employment opportunities were part of the council’s stated priorities.

The Business Desk reported in March that the scheme was focused on Bootle Golf Course and would be led by Lumira Group, headed by Victor Anichebe. The report said the partnership would transform the vacant land beside the course and, over time, the course itself.

Sefton Council’s planning records also show a related application for outdoor sports facilities at Bootle Golf Course, Dunnings Bridge Road, Netherton. That application includes proposals for seven padel tennis courts and one football pitch, with associated enclosure boards, synthetic surfaces, canopies, lighting and parking.

Prediction: how could this affect Bootle residents and golfers?

If approved and delivered as proposed, the Bootle Golf Course leisure development could give residents access to a wider mix of sports, leisure and community facilities close to existing local infrastructure. The proposed padel courts, five-a-side pitches, hotel, clubhouse and podcast spaces would broaden the site’s use beyond golf.

For golfers, the council’s stated commitment is that green fees for existing members, local residents, juniors and people aged over 65 would remain affordable, with future changes subject to the council’s fees and charges process. Golfers may therefore see improved facilities, but the practical impact will depend on the final planning decision, the management agreement and the detail of any future fee changes.

For local jobseekers and young people, the council says the development could provide training and employment opportunities during construction and afterwards. The extent of those opportunities will depend on recruitment arrangements, contractor commitments and the eventual operation of the hotel, sports and leisure facilities.

For nearby residents, the protection of public rights of way and proposed security improvements may affect how the area is used. The planning consultation gives residents an opportunity to raise concerns or support for issues such as access, traffic, opening hours, noise, security and the affordability of facilities before any approval is decided.