A £3.5million bid for funding towards the new Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport has proved unsuccessful, as Sefton Council continues with its determination to build the new landmark facility.
The centre is earmarked to replace the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre which closed in March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK.
The Marine Lake Events Centre is the central ambition of the Southport Town Deal Board, which secured £38.5million from Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in the Budget in March last year to support the revitalisation of our seaside town.
Southport Town Deal Board allocated £30million of that sum to create a new Marine Lake Events Centre, while also allocating a further £3.3million for a new water and light show in the Marine Lake.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has pledged a further £20million towards the ambitious scheme, as Sefton continues to pursue additional funding.
The Marine Lake Events Centre and light show are estimated by Sefton Council to create 288 new jobs, attract footfall of over 515,000 visitors to the waterfront each year and boost Southport’s hotel and hospitality sector with nearly 60,000 overnight stays from conferences and events alone.
In his report to Cabinet, Sefton Council Executive Director (Place) Stephen Watson said: “After engaging with Arts Council England as part of the Southport Town Deal submission it was agreed by Cabinet on 29th July to submit a funding bid in relation to the Marine Lake Events Centre for the ACE Cultural Renewal Fund.
“After conversations with Arts Council England it was recommended to submit a £3.5m bid, the maximum bid allowed was £5m with a total grant pot of circa £18m for England.
“After submitting an Expression of Interest it was recommended that a full bid was not progressed, this was due to the volume of EOIs and also in the view of the review panel other projects met the programme’s objectives more so than Marine Lake Events Centre.
“However, the panel’s recommendation was advisory, and any full application would be a ministerial decision. A full application was then submitted.
“Notification has been received from Arts Council England that the Marine Lake Events Centre application has been unsuccessful, the reason being is that the Marine Lake Events Centre project is due to finish after the March 2025 programme deadline for spend.
“It should be noted over 90% of the project would be complete and assurances were given that the Arts Council England contribution would have been drawn down.
“Arts Council England have informed us conversations did take place with DCMS but no flexibility was awarded to the application. Further detailed feedback has been requested, but ACE have advised that this is not available.
“This outcome reinforces the increasingly competitive environment in which the council may be required to pursue capital funding for future project development and delivery.”
This Southport Town Deal consultation, which was carried out by Stand Up For Southport, Turleys and DS Emotion, resulted in over 7,000 responses – the most of any destination in England bidding for Town Deal funding. Separate consultation also took place with under 16s in relation to The Events Centre and future uses, with more than 1,000 respondents.
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