Projects at Formby

Your questions answered

• How will the project impact your plans to visit?

  To avoid disruption and disappointment visitors are advised not to travel to us by car on sunny days.

  The Victoria Road car park and toilets are closed until spring 2026. There is no access on foot to the beach through the work site area, which starts at the junction of Victoria Road and Badgers Rake, continuing along the car park out on to the beach. Some noise is expected from the heavy machinery working on site. Please keep dogs on leads if walking near to the work site area.

  The Lifeboat Road car park and toilets will remain open, but parking is extremely limited. On sunny days the spaces are likely to fill up quickly. Once full the Lifeboat Road car park will be closed to keep everyone safe and prevent queuing. With most people staying for the day the car park is unlikely to re-open on busy days.

  Please note: Parking restrictions and fines are in place by Sefton Council on residential roads in Formby.

  Thank you for parking responsibly so emergency services can respond to incidents without delay.

  Visitors should consider travelling by train or choosing alternative beaches and car parks along the Sefton Coast and Wirral Coast.

  With regular services every 15-minutes, travelling by train is the most convenient way to visit Formby beach whilst we carry out our major conservation project at Victoria Road.

  Formby station for Lifeboat Road – access to the beach via a boardwalk, toilets, bins and refreshments in the car park.

  Freshfield station – there will be no visitor access on foot to the beach through the work site area, which starts at the junction of Victoria Road and Badgers Rake, continuing along the car park out on to the beach. You can also access the north of the site on foot via Blundell Avenue.

  Please note: if you decide to walk on site from Freshfield station there are NO toilets, bins or refreshments available at this end of the site until spring 2026.

  Thank you for your support and understanding whilst we enhance this special place for people and wildlife.

• Where does the rubble come from?

  Regular visitors to Formby’s coastline will be familiar with the sight of rubble on the beach at Victoria Road. The rubble is all that remains of the old Harington Barracks, which were demolished after the Second World War. The demolition rubble was used to form the foundations of the current beach car park, which used to be much further in land. Over time the dunes have naturally rolled back and exposed huge amounts of the rubble. If we do nothing this issue will become worse over time.

• How much rubble is there?

  You can’t miss the rubble spilling onto the beach but might be surprised to discover that the rubble extends beneath the entire beach car park, reaching a depth of about 2 metres. We estimate there to be around 39,000 m³ of rubble - this would fill around 15 Olympic swimming pools. If we do nothing this issue will become worse as natural coastal change continues to expose more rubble.

• Why does the rubble need to be removed?

  The tonnes of old construction rubble is not only disconnecting habitats and creating a barrier for natural sand movement but it is also restricting visitor access to the beach.

  The issues caused by the rubble are particularly noticeable during the winter months when natural coastal change is accelerated during stormy weather. The number and frequency of storms is also increasing due to climate change. As the dunes naturally roll back more rubble is exposed, which can result in the Victoria Road walk over being closed for safety reasons. If we do nothing this issue will become worse over time.

• Have you explored other options?

  The team have spent many years working with conservation experts to explore potential solutions. A full options analysis was required as part of the planning application and Environmental Impact Assessment - from removing the rubble off site by sea or by land, re-purposing the rubble as the foundation of a replacement car park in various locations on site to the impact of doing nothing.

  The options analysis carried out as part of the planning application concluded that this was the most viable solution available to remove the rubble from its current location and restore the sand dune habitats in this area.

• Why is the car park being relocated?

  The options analysis carried out as part of the planning application concluded that this was the most viable solution available to remove the rubble from its current location and restore the sand dune habitats in this area.

  A third of spaces in the current car park have also been reclaimed by natural dune rollback since the 1980s. Roughly eight spaces continue to disappear each year, compounding the issues felt by the local community on busy days.

  Recycling the rubble to relocate and create a similar sized car park further inland provides a sustainable solution to this complex issue and will ensure there is space for people to park and enjoy Formby for years to come.

  The hardstanding car park will hold the same number of cars, but spaces will be more defined with an improved turning circle, making parking more efficient and improving traffic flow on and off the site.

• Will you be cutting down trees?

  The project will remove a small area (0.8% of NT Formby’s woodlands) of relatively poor habitat, mainly self-seeded sycamore and birch trees. This will create the space needed to recycle the rubble onsite as the subbase of a replacement car park. The location was chosen because the hollow in the landscape can contain the rubble and bring the car park up to a suitable level. Whilst the tree removal will have some initial visual impact, the project will ultimately create bigger and healthier habitats for wildlife at Formby.

  To access the rubble, we’re also clearing some scrub from around the Victoria Road beach car park. This will also help marram grass to grow first, giving the new dunes structure and some stability.

  The work is scheduled for winter outside the bird nesting season and when wildlife is generally much less active. We’re working closely with an ecologist who will oversee every element of the project to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

• How will removing the trees impact wildlife including red squirrels?

  Ecological surveys have confirmed that no red squirrel dreys are present in the section of woodland being cleared. Additionally, the trees being removed represent only 0.8% of the total woodland habitat at NT Formby, ensuring that wildlife will continue to have plenty of space to thrive.

  We've thoroughly assessed the project's ecological impact as part of the planning application. Special measures are in place for species like sand lizards and overwintering birds, as well as precautions for other wildlife including bats, red squirrels and nesting birds. We’re working closely with an ecologist who will oversee every element of the project to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

  Improving the tree health, species diversity, and age structure in Formby’s plantation woodlands to benefit both wildlife and people remains a priority. As part of our 10-year woodland management plan and separate to the project we’re planting 1,000 trees in March 2025 to replace an area of dense, mature trees, following our "right tree, right place" approach. You can find out more here

• How will you protect wildlife during the project?

  As a conservation charity protecting wildlife is incredibly important to us and a top priority. We've thoroughly assessed the project's ecological impact as part of the planning application. Special measures are in place for species like sand lizards and overwintering birds, as well as more general precautions for other wildlife including bats, red squirrels and nesting birds. We’re working closely with an ecologist who will oversee every element of the project to help us monitor and minimise impact of the project work on Formby’s precious wildlife.

  We're confident this project will hugely benefit wildlife at Formby, like natterjack toads and sand lizards, without being detrimental to Formby's much-loved red squirrels.

• Why close at the busiest time?

  We understand that the closure of the car park at Victoria Road during our busiest time might be frustrating for visitors and the local community. However, this conservation effort is a complex project with many elements that need to be carefully planned and executed. To help protect the local wildlife we must factor into the timings wildlife behaviour patterns, including hibernation and breeding. The project will take a full year to complete, and it therefore has to include one summer.

  This major conservation project is part of the Trust’s long-term commitment to look after this special part of the Sefton Coast. It will benefit wildlife by reconnecting the dunes and creating a healthier habitat, as well as providing a safer, more natural space for everyone to enjoy. Thank you for your support whilst we enhance this special space.

• How can I keep updated on this project?

  We consulted widely on the project proposal, including a focused period of engagement in summer 2021, which reached over 45,000 people and gathered valuable feedback from the local community and visitors as well as National Trust members and volunteers.

  There will continue to be lots of opportunities for you to find out more about the operational planning and logistics that may impact your visit and for you to have your say. Stay updated through our website and social media. You can also sign up to receive regular project news bulletins by email click here

• Who is working on the project?

  Cheetham Hill Construction (CHC) are a well-respected north west based civil engineering contractor, undertaking all types of work for almost 60 years. With a large fleet of plant and in house workforce that are experienced undertaking remediation, environmental and infrastructure works they are ideally suited to this project. CHC have worked locally for both the National Trust and Natural England at Formby and Ainsdale successfully undertaking similar ‘Dunescape’ contracts www.chc.co.uk

  Civic Engineers, the civil, structural and transport engineers that place climate resilience and people at the heart of their engineering services, were appointed as lead consultant and civil engineers to take the scheme through detailed design and construction.

  Stace LLP – is a leading, independent multidisciplinary construction and property consultancy, delivering services across the UK. They are acting as the National Trust’s Agent and providing Cost Management services, in addition to overseeing health and safety to ensure full compliance with the Construction, Design and Management (CDM) regulations.

  Tyrer Ecological Consultants – are a well-established and expanding ecological consultancy based in Formby on the Sefton Coast.

  Simply Ecology – ecological consultants involved in the project planning for over 5 years. With over 30 years of experience in the sector, and having previously partnered with the National Trust for the notches project to restore the tobacco waste dunes. Simply Ecology provided the baseline wildlife surveys at Victoria Road and are now overseeing the safe movement of nationally rare sand lizards away from the work area and their release nearby.

• How is the project being funded?

  This important conservation project is being made possible thanks to a significant contribution towards the dune restoration work from the UK-wide Dynamic Dunescapes project with funding from EU LIFE and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside the money raised from National Trust memberships and visitors.