Sefton Council appoints Graham to deliver £73m Marine Lake Events Centre

Sefton Council has appointed construction group Graham as preferred bidder to deliver its £73m Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) project in Southport.

Construction work is due to begin later this year.

A pre-construction services agreement is now in place between Graham and Sefton Council, with the project team working towards a full contract in the coming months.

The Marine Lake Events Centre will feature a modern theatre and auditorium and an exhibition centre equipped with advanced production facilities, retail concessions, café and restaurant.

Demolition of the existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre building, led by DSM, to make way for the new venue has now completed and sheet piling works will commence shortly.

This will help prepare the site for the construction phase of the project.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, said: “Graham are a major contractor with proven experience of working on projects of this scale and complexity.

“Proper procurement for the Marine Lake Events Centre is vital and our teams have been working exceptionally hard behind the scenes to ensure we have a team of the very best partners and contractors.”

Peter Reavey, regional director at Graham, said: “The Marine Lake Events Centre will not only transform Southport’s cultural offering, but also act as a catalyst for economic growth in the region.

“Our commitment to delivering high quality construction projects that benefit communities aligns perfectly with the vision for MLEC, and we look forward to bringing this exciting development to life with Sefton Council.”

Original MLEC contractor, Kier Group, parted ways with Sefton Council in December 2023.

The council named Kier as its preferred contractor in March that year to carry out pre-contract work such as removing heritage assets from the existing building.

However, nine months later it was revealed that Kier would no longer play a part in the resort’s major regeneration.

A Kier spokesperson said at the time: “Kier has been proud to support Sefton Council with early enabling works on the Marine Lakes Event Centre and to have played a part in bringing forward this exciting project.

“Our involvement in the project will not extend to the main construction works, and we wish Sefton Council and the team all the best with this phase.”

In response, Cllr Marion Atkinson, cabinet member for regeneration and skills for Sefton Council, said: “While work is continuing both on and away from the Marine Lake Events Centre site, we can confirm that Kier Group have been informed of our intention to end our pre-construction services agreement with them.

“Sefton Council wishes to thank Kier Group for their work on the MLEC project to date.

“The local authority and its extensive delivery and design team, which includes a number of industry-leading experts, are continuing with all necessary works on site ahead of the planned demolition phase, which will commence in spring 2024.”