After what she described as ‘disappointing’ recent public comments about the future of the Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson has described the development as a ‘flagship project’ that is part of a wider regeneration programme for the town.
The £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC), the main element of the Southport Town Deal regeneration scheme, will replace the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre with a modern state-of-the-art facility.
Once complete, it is estimated to secure over £19 million to the local economy every year, attracting over 500,000 visitors from across the UK.
It will be operated by Legends Global (previously ASM Global), one of the world’s leading companies in live events, venues, and brands.
A comprehensive report on the scheme is due before councillors on Sefton Council’s Cabinet at Bootle Town Hall this Thursday (2nd October 2025).
The update follows the Government announcement on Saturday that it will fund up to £20 million to secure the restoration and reopening of Southport Pier.
Read More: Southport Pier to be restored and reopened as Chancellor announces £20 million investment
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said:
“The Marine Lake Events Centre is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Southport’s visitor economy and secure long-term prosperity for our town.
“It is deeply disappointing to see yet another attempt to talk Southport down, especially when so much hard work is being done to deliver a project that will bring over half a million new visitors a year and inject £19 million annually into our local economy.
“Let me be clear – the Town Deal funding is being used responsibly and strategically, and everything we are doing is about securing best value for public finances.
“The Marine Lake Events Centre is the flagship project, but it is part of a wider regeneration programme that includes improvements to public spaces and infrastructure across Southport. These are investments in our future, not wastes of money.
“Yes, we’ve faced challenges, largely led by inflationary pressures in the industry, but these are being tackled head-on.
“We’ve already engaged new contractors and are progressing with legal mechanisms to ensure the project can move forward. This is responsible governance and robust commercial negotiation, not mismanagement.
“A full update will be presented to Cabinet on Thursday 2nd October, outlining the next steps and reaffirming our commitment to delivering this transformative project.
“Southport deserves ambition, not negativity. We will not allow political point-scoring to derail progress. This is about building a better future — and we’re proud to be leading that charge.”
You can find out more about the Marine Lake Events Centre here.
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