£20m Bootle hotel and sports complex plans submitted 2026

Key Points

• Victor Anichebe, former striker for Everton FC, has put forward a plan via his company the Lumira Group to develop land adjacent to Bootle Golf Club.
• This is part of an investment package that aims to generate some £20 million worth of private investment in Bootle.
• These plans have been made on a vacant site at the junction of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road.
• The development would comprise of a new clubhouse, hotel, padel courts, five-a-side football fields and podcast studios.
• According to Sefton Council, leisure, community and creative spaces are part of the development plan.
• Employment and training opportunities will be sought during the development and after completion.
• The green fees for current members, residents, junior golfers and those aged over 65 will remain affordable.
• Public rights of way will remain in place, while security and facilities upgrades are being looked at.
• Residents will be able to see the plans and give their views during the planning process.
• The plans are still subject to obtaining the relevant permissions.

Bootle (Liverpool standard) October 16, 2026 — A £20 million Bootle leisure proposal has moved forward after Lumira Group, the company led by former Everton striker Victor Anichebe, submitted a planning application for a hotel and sports complex next to Bootle Golf Course.

As reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West, Lumira Group is “forging ahead” with plans to build a hotel and sports complex beside the town’s golf course. The application focuses on a currently vacant site at the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road.

Sefton Council confirmed that the planning application had been submitted for a new leisure development on land next to Bootle Golf Course. The council said the scheme represents significant progress in its partnership with Lumira Group, which was announced earlier in 2026 and aims to bring approximately £20 million of private investment into Bootle.

The proposals include a modern clubhouse, hotel, padel courts, five-a-side pitches and a range of leisure, community and creative facilities. The council also said the plans include dedicated podcast spaces.

Why has Lumira Group submitted the plans?

Lumira Group says the development is intended to create a destination that combines high-quality leisure facilities with opportunities for the local community. Victor Anichebe, of Lumira Group, said the company was pleased to reach the planning stage and looked forward to engaging with local people as the process progressed.

“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,” Anichebe said, according to Sefton Council.

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.”

The council said it had prioritised finding an investment partner that shared its ambitions for Bootle and would deliver wider benefits for local communities.

What facilities are included in the scheme?

The Bootle leisure proposal includes a hotel and sports complex alongside improvements connected to Bootle Golf Course. According to Sefton Council, the development would provide a modern clubhouse, padel courts, five-a-side pitches and podcast spaces.

Place North West described the scheme as a hotel and sports complex next to Bootle Golf Course. The Golf Business also reported that Lumira Group had lodged plans for a hotel and clubhouse at Bootle Golf Club.

Insider Media reported that the proposals focus on the vacant corner site and include a modern clubhouse, hotel, padel courts, five-a-side pitches and leisure, community and creative facilities, including dedicated podcast spaces.

The council said the proposals would together create a “high-quality leisure destination” while expanding the activities and opportunities available to local people.

How will local golfers be affected?

Sefton Council said local people would continue to benefit from Bootle Golf Course as the plans progress. It said green fees for existing members, local residents, junior players and people aged over 65 would remain affordable.

Any future changes to fees would be subject to the council’s established fees and charges process, according to the council. It also said existing public rights of way would be protected.

The council added that improvements to site security and facilities were being considered as part of the wider vision.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said the application was an important step in bringing forward the council’s vision for the site and securing significant investment for Bootle.

“What makes this proposal particularly exciting is the breadth and quality of what is being offered,” she said. “Alongside a new clubhouse and an improved golf course offer, there will be new sports, leisure and community facilities that can benefit local people for years to come.”

What has Sefton Council said about jobs and access?

The council said a key priority was to ensure the development creates training and employment opportunities for local people during construction and beyond. It also said new facilities should be affordable and accessible for local young people.

Cllr Atkinson said the council wanted a partner that shared its commitment to creating opportunities for local people. She said this included supporting training and employment during construction and ensuring facilities remained affordable and accessible for existing members and new visitors.

“For the Council, finding the right investment partner has never been just about securing the best financial value from the site,”

Cllr Atkinson said.

“We wanted a partner who shares our ambition for Bootle and our commitment to creating opportunities for local people.”

She added:

“That is why we talk about partnership. We have found a partner that shares our pride in Bootle and our ambition to deliver lasting benefits for the community. Subject to the planning process, of course, we look forward to next steps.”

When was the partnership first announced?

Sefton Council and Lumira Group announced their partnership in March 2026. At that stage, the council said Lumira Group would lease unused land at the corner of Dunnings Bridge Road and Boundary Road to deliver a new leisure development.

The March announcement said proposals included a modern clubhouse, hotel, padel courts and a range of leisure and community facilities, including a podcast space. The council said Lumira Group was set to bring approximately £20 million of private investment to transform the community asset.

The council also said there would be local consultation as part of the planning process, with the aim of progressing discussions and early phases of work during 2026. It said all proposals were subject to planning permissions, approvals and the council’s financial procedure rules.

The Business Desk reported that the partnership was announced in March and aims to bring around £20 million of private investment into Bootle. It described Lumira Group as East Sussex-based and headed by former Everton FC striker Victor Anichebe.

What happens next in the planning process?

Residents will have the opportunity to view the proposals and provide feedback as part of the planning process, according to Sefton Council.

The council said that, subject to the necessary approvals, the development would represent a major investment in the area. It said the scheme supports wider ambitions to drive regeneration, attract private-sector investment and create new opportunities for local communities.

The application does not mean construction can begin immediately. The proposals must first pass through the planning process, with the council confirming that the development remains subject to the necessary approvals.

Background of the development

Lumira Group describes the Bootle Golf and Community Resort as a £20 million regeneration project intended to transform a historic 125-acre municipal golf course into a multi-sport community destination in the North West. The company describes the project as operator-led and intended for long-term ownership.

Lumira Group says its founder, Victor Anichebe, is leading a holding company that builds and invests across sport, education, healthcare and infrastructure in the UK. The company lists the Bootle Golf Course regeneration project among its current projects and says it is being delivered in partnership with Sefton Council.

The council’s March announcement said Lumira Group would lease the unused land beside the golf course, while the council and Lumira Group would also explore a future management agreement for Bootle Golf Course. That agreement could see substantial improvements made to the facility, according to LBN Daily’s earlier reporting.

Prediction: What could this mean for Bootle residents?

If approved, the Bootle leisure proposal could give local residents access to a broader range of sports, leisure and community facilities close to Bootle Golf Course. The planned hotel, padel courts, five-a-side pitches, clubhouse and podcast spaces could increase footfall to the area and support the council’s aim to attract private investment.

For golfers, the immediate commitment is that green fees for existing members, residents, junior players and people aged over 65 would remain affordable, while public rights of way would be protected. Any future fee changes would still need to follow the council’s established fees and charges process.

For local jobseekers and young people, the council’s stated focus on construction-phase training, employment and accessible facilities suggests the project could create practical opportunities if the plans proceed. However, the scale and timing of those benefits will depend on planning approval, delivery and the final arrangements for operating the site.