Construction work set to begin after £73m Marine Lake Events Centre approved
Southport’s £73m Marine Lake Events Centre has been approved by Sefton Council’s planning committee.
Construction is expected to begin this summer.
Based on the site of the former Southport Theatre, the Marine Lake Events Centre will be a flexible events space. It is expected to bring more than half a million new visitors to Southport each year and generate an annual £18m boost for the local economy. This will, in turn lead to a significant number of job opportunities.
The centre is one of the schemes being developed as a result of the successful bid for £37.5m of Town Deal funding for Southport. A significant proportion of this funding is for the centre, as well as for the Light Fantastic, a water, light and sound show in the neighbouring Marine Lake.
Plans for the centre have received overwhelming support during months of detailed community engagement. Community feedback gathered by Sefton Council and its partners was taken on board and integrated into the plans. Widespread stakeholder engagement has been ongoing since prior to the submission of the Town Deal bid itself.
Sefton Council has already started a series of preparatory works to ensure the project can get under way swiftly. This includes identifying ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management company and producer of live experiences, as the site’s preferred operating partner.
Kier Group is the preferred design and build contractor to oversee the delivery of the new venue.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) recently approved £17.7m funding for the new centre. This was on top of £2.3m the combined authority had already committed to the pre-development work. Sefton Council will also provide funding of up to £19.7m for the project.
Stephen Watson, Sefton Council’s executive director of place, said: “The Marine Lake Events Centre, together with the Light Fantastic, is forecast to attract more than half a million additional visitors to Southport year on year and generating an annual £18m for the local economy.
“It’s a hugely transformational project designed to boost the local economy, create new job opportunities and bring thousands of extra visitors to our beautiful borough each year.
“This new events centre supports our strategic objectives of providing more reasons to visit, to stay, to stay longer, and to do so all year round – all of which support the creation of quality employment and career opportunities in the sector.”
He added: “From the moment we revealed this ambitious project the views and feedback of those living and working near to the site, as well as the wider community, were key to getting to this stage.”
