Sefton Council says it is “wholly committed to delivering” the £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre scheme in Southport.
The local authority says it is determined to “secure best value” for the ambitious new facility, which is estimated to attract over half a million additional visitors to the town every year with a £19 million boost to the local economy.
The new state-of-the-art centre, the central scheme of Southport Town Deal, will replace the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.
An update on the development was brought before Sefton’s Cabinet, with councillors determined to “secure a main contract and to start on site during the Spring of 2026”.
Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, Cllr Paulette Lappin reiterated at the Cabinet meeting that the council is committed to the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) in a way that delivers best value for public funding.
It follows last week’s announcement that the Government will provide up to £20 million for the restoration of Southport Pier, while the £10 million revitalisation of the Town Hall Gardens will begin next year.
In a statement Cllr Lappin said:
“We are wholly committed to delivering the scheme and the Council will provide the capital required to bridge the gap once that number is finalised – but our focus must remain on robust commercial negotiation to secure the right partner to deliver the project for the right price and against the right programme.
“The Cabinet, the Leader of the Council and I have been closely monitoring and scrutinising this project in depth throughout the design development and contractor procurement processes, so the report, its update and its recommendations are no surprise.
“Our focus throughout the project, and across all areas of our investment programme and beyond, should be on securing best value for the public purse, and the alternative approach in this scenario would have been to agree to a contract at a level that would have cost the taxpayer much more than we believe it should.
“We recognise continued construction cost inflation pressures, and particularly challenges experienced on projects similar to the MLEC across the country in recent years, all of which have been contributing factors.
“Our priority is ensuring that this project is delivered, but only in a way that delivers best value for the public purse. We are wholly committed to delivering the scheme and the Council will provide the capital required to bridge the gap once that number is finalised – but our focus must remain on robust commercial negotiation to secure the right partner to deliver the project for the right price and against the right programme.
“I am pleased to see continued operator confidence in the project, and the increased revenue that an enhanced business plan will deliver will help the Council to bridge the gap referred to.
“This reflects the sustained confidence in the MLEC project, in Southport and in Sefton, of one of the world’s leading and largest venue operators.
“We are also pleased to have support from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government with management of funding timescales in a manner that enables us to secure best value, and that reflects their sustained confidence in our ability to deliver this exciting project.
“Aspects of this ongoing process are, and will be, commercially sensitive and therefore confidential, but we remain committed to sharing updates as completely as we can, and as early as we can, and I therefore welcome this comprehensive project update.
“While work will continue on site in the interim period following completion of demolition, our aim remains to secure a main contract and to start on site during the Spring of 2026.
“The economic case for MLEC remains incredibly robust, expected to bring hundreds of thousands of new visitors to the town each year, all year round, driving overnight guest stays in the town as well.
“It will generate more than £19m per annum for our economy, and will generate hundreds of new jobs during both the construction and operational phases of the project.
“MLEC sits alongside projects such as the Enterprise Arcade, the public realm enhancements undertaken and proposed across town, the forthcoming works at Southport Pier and on the Southport town square and gardens, as well as a range of private-sector led investment and development across the town. And across the borough, work continues at pace on major schemes such as the first phases of transformation at Bootle Strand.
“These are exciting times for Southport and for Sefton, and while major construction will inevitably bring challenges and complexities, we are confident in our ability to manage these as effectively as possible to secure best value and the best outcomes for the Council and its residents.”
You can find out more about the Marine Lake Events Centre at www.sefton.gov.uk/mlec
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
