The new Southport Enterprise Arcade is nearing completion, with the interior fit out due to be complete this month.
An official opening date has not yet been revealed for the new facility, which is situated in the Crown Buildings on Eastbank Street in Southport town centre.
It is one of the central regeneration projects of Southport Town Deal, which is also supporting the transformation of the nearby Southport Market Quarter area.
The new Southport Enterprise Arcade, being led by Sefton Council, aims to boost the growth of creative and digital businesses in Southport.
It will add to other spaces in Southport providing space for co-working and digital businesses including The Engine Room inside Wayfarers Arcade and Werksy on West Street.
A Sefton Council report says: “The Enterprise Arcade made considerable progress last year and is almost completed by the appointed contractor Skyline.
“Refurbishment of Crown Buildings in Southport’s town centre for a new business hub is a key Town Deal project and will be a purpose-built workspace for start-up creative and digital businesses in Southport.
“Final work to the interior fit out and finishing continued and is anticipated to complete by March 2025.
“Major structural alterations including new shop units to the ground floor for retail / co-working provision are now in place and a new lift has been installed.
“Work is progressing to secure tenants for the facility, once works are complete.”
The new Enterprise Arcade will help to diversify the local economy and provide more opportunities particularly for young people.
It is being funded through £1.5 million in Town Deal funding and will be situated in the Crown Buildings, next to and above The Entertainer toy shop, and above Cambridge Walks.
It will boast a mix of accommodation which includes:
- a collaborative Ground Floor Food and Drink based offer
- a co-working / hot desk and start-up space on the first floor
- three ‘grow on’ offices on the second floor
- a large single office on the third floor suitable for an ‘anchor tenant’ for the project
A council report says: “Enterprise Arcade is delivering an important element of the Southport Town Deal, seeking to increase the sector representation of Creative and Digital businesses in Southport and across the borough as a whole.
“In this way Enterprise Arcade will provide a focus for the sector, a hub for collaboration and a base for skills and learning development in a work-based environment.
“In addition, it will help diversify the town centre and local economy.”
Across the road from the new Southport Enterprise Arcade, extensive building work is taking place on ‘Les Transformation de Southport’ with the first phase of transportation improvements in the area around Southport Market – Kings Street, Market Street, and Eastbank Street.
In a report, Sefton Council said: “This exciting project should help transform this area of the town centre by updating and improving the quality of the public realm and improving directional signage.
Balfour Beatty has been appointed as the contractor for this project and the construction works programme is due to complete this work in Autumn 2025.
“Engagement with businesses affected is ongoing to minimise disruption.”
A programme of consultation is now underway for a second phase of Les Transformation de Southport centred around Southport Promenade and details can be found here:
Have your say on Phase 2 of Les Transformations de Southport.
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