Backing is due to be given today to updated proposals to create the new Southport Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) project, incorporating The Light Fantastic water and light show on the Marine Lake with an agreement to enter into a main construction contract with Vinci Building Limited.
Latest developments on Southport’s biggest construction project for generations will be decided by councillors at Sefton Council’s Cabinet meeting at Southport Town Hall this morning (Thursday 25th June 2026).
If agreed, Vinci would be on site in October this year with a programme of 115 weeks with the venue due to open in early 2029.
The central scheme of the Southport Town Deal is forecast to have a significant impact on Southport, directly creating 386 new jobs, attracting more than 600,000 new visitors each year, and adding more than £30m per year to the local economy.
The venue will be operated by Legends Global, one of the world’s leading companies in live events, venues, and brands, who remain committed to the project.
Councillors will hear this morning how cost inflationary pressures, driven by external factors and affecting the whole construction industry, since the bid to Government for funding was submitted in 2020, mean that the total development cost has risen from an initial £73m to £106m.
They will hear more about these inflationary pressures, and the work carried out to date to mitigate these impacts to the extent possible.
Additional capital funding of £33m is therefore required, which Sefton Council will seek to secure from a mix of grant funding from Central Government, grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and from additional council borrowing.
The project comprises the demolition of the aging Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (STCC) complex, replacing it with a high quality, modern events centre, spectacular water and light show and greatly improved public realm.
The MLEC is seen as vital component to help grow the visitor economy for Southport, Sefton and the wider City Region. Similar recent projects across the UK including Swansea, Hull and Derby have seen tangible benefits with town centres seeing major increases in footfall, businesses reporting large increases in customers, properties being refurbished and new end users relocating due to the benefits a fit for purpose multi-use events centre brings to an area.
After the conclusion of the PCSA with Graham Construction the Council undertook a soft marketing exercise to appoint a new tier 1 contractor.
Following on from the soft market testing Vinci Building Limited were appointed as the Council’s preferred contractor. The change of main contractor was recommended to maximise value for money and minimise the construction cost.
The total development cost reported herein is lower than was anticipated at the time of the change of main contractor in September 2025.
Over the last 6 months Vinci have worked with the Council and its appointed delivery and design team to complete technical design and finalise the main contract price via a complex sub-contractor market return.
Stage 5 design has also been brought forward to help combat further cost increases and to help finalise the programme of works. Due to the current uncertainty on material pricing, it is proposed to agree to an early order, which is common practice in the industry and is intended to help further reduce both cost and programme risk. This will be done via a letter of intent, subject to independent legal advice.
Sefton Council has also appointed Dowhigh Ltd via a compliant procurement process to undertake the new ramp from the upper promenade that will allow the mains works to commence. This is a major civil construction project and will be completed in September 2026.
Over the last 6 months the Council and its Delivery team have been working with Vinci to agree to the main contract terms that will include a contract price. All contractual terms have been agreed along with a final contract price. It is anticipated that following full Council in July the main contract will be executed with Vinci starting on site in October 2026 with a programme of 115 weeks with the venue due to open in early 2029.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “The Marine Lake Events Centre will play a major role in driving economic growth, attracting visitors and supporting jobs for years to come not only in Southport but across the Liverpool City Region.
“Of course we are disappointed that the project won’t be delivered for the initial costs targeted at the time of the Town Deal bid submission in 2020,but this is due to wider economic factors outside our control.
“Both public and private sector projects across the UK have seen costs increasing in some key construction categories by up to 60% since 2020.
“What we can control is the preservation of quality and impact of the project and we are doing just that.
“We could not consider sacrificing our ambition for Southport, for Sefton and for the region, and must find the funding to deliver on this ambition.
“That does not mean however that we have rolled over and accepted these new costings without challenge.
“Extensive work has been carried out to manage this increase while improving longer term commercial outcomes and preserving the quality and impact of the scheme. We have always been focused on robust commercial management and securing best value for public money.
“This includes identifying £12million of savings.”
Cllr Atkinson added: “The appointed venue manager and operator, Legends Global remains highly confident that the venue, when open will deliver significant community, economic and cultural benefits”
A spokesperson for Legends Global said: “We continue to work closely with our partners to bring the Marine Lake Events Centre to life.
“We’re confident in the future economic benefits of the events centre for both Southport and the Liverpool City Region, and in the many opportunities and fantastic content it will generate.”
Subject to Cabinet approvals and the conclusion of ongoing funding discussions, Sefton expects to enter into the main construction contract later this summer.
The project is still expected to follow a two-year build programme, with operator fit-out to follow, leading to an anticipated opening in the first half of 2029.
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