Addleshaw Goddard's Real Estate and Corporate teams have advised Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council on its acquisition of the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle from Ellandi and Avenue Capital.

The deal, which will see the shopping centre return to local ownership for the first time in many years, is a landmark transaction for the Council and will contribute to the delivery of the Council's ambitious plans for Bootle Town Centre, creating a much needed new income stream to support services and local jobs in Sefton.

The acquisition reflects a growing trend that is being seen across the country, as local authorities take ownership of key assets in their boroughs as a way to deliver economic growth and regeneration - unlocking future development opportunities and additional private sector investment in the region.

The AG team was led by partners Jonathan Powling and Peter Kershaw.

AG recently advised Surrey Heath Borough Council on its £86m acquisition of The Mall Shopping Centre in Camberley from Capital & Regional, a deal which was one of the largest local authority-backed town centre investment initiatives of recent years.