Demolition work on the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is due to begin in Spring 2024.
The building, which opened in 1973 and closed in March 2020, will be replaced by the £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre.
The exciting new facility is forecast to attract an additional 515,000 visitors to Southport every year.
The demolition date was revealed at the full Sefton Council meeting, following questions asked by Sefton Lib Dem Leader Cllr John Pugh.
He asked: “At what date is the demolition of Southport Floral Hall and Theatre scheduled to begin? Who is the appointed contractor for the demolition?”
Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills Councillor Marion Atkinson
replied: “Spring 2024. The Council is in a pre-construction services agreement with Kier Group.
“The main construction contract and in turn a demolition sub-contract, have not been appointed at this time.”
An artist’s impression of the new Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport
Hoardings were erected around the site in August, with service diversions being undertaken, as Sefton Council and its partners began the first stage of physical works to create the exciting, multi-use centre in the heart of Southport.
The works, carried out by the local authority’s appointed contractor Kier, will see historic assets from Southport Theatre and Convention Centre safely removed and preserved prior to the demolition of the existing building.
It is expected that demolition works will take a number of months, but first major utility diversions are in the process of being undertaken that will see critical work to water and electrical connections around the site.
Detailed feedback from community engagement carried out by Sefton Council and its partners has helped guide each stage of the Marine Lake Events Centre project.
Located on the site of the former Southport Theatre, the state-of-the-art, £73 million 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 £18 million boost for the local economy. This will, in turn, lead to a significant number of job opportunities.
The Marine Lake Events 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 adjacent Marine Lake.
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