Work on the Marine Lake Events Centre site in Southport is progressing at promising pace with recent major civil engineering works already being completed ahead of schedule, and the main construction contract now commencing.
Specialist contractor Dowhigh have put the finishing touches on a vital access ramp from the Upper Promenade down to the Marine Lake Events Centre site. The ramp compliments excavations, extensive sheet piling along the lakefront and the construction of new retaining walls which have all been completed in recent months.
Now international construction firm VINCI Building will take over the site to begin the actual creation of the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC).
VINCI Building have been working closely with the Council’s project team over the last year to be in the best place to progress work quickly on the incredibly ambitious waterfront development and have now formally signed a contract to deliver the construction.
Positive economic, social and environmental outcomes from this transformative project are the priority for Sefton Council, and Vinci is committed to delivering social value activities as part of the MLEC project.
Commitments include the provision of careers talks, work experience, support into work assistance, apprenticeships, donations to local community projects and local supply chain spend.
Vinci are working well on delivery with already completing 15% of their pledged career talks, 16% of their support into work assistance and nearly 10% of their local community project donations, to name a few.
The remainder of Vinci’s social value pledges will be attained throughout the duration of the project.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:
“It is brilliant to see our ambition being delivered.
“Firstly I want to thank Dowhigh for their work to create the access ramp ahead of schedule. It’s an incredibly necessary piece of infrastructure and without it we wouldn’t be able to deliver the build of MLEC as effectively or as safely.
“We are grateful that not only has it been delivered ahead of schedule but also created to an incredibly high standard with as little disruption as possible to residents and nearby businesses.
“Now VINCI Building are in a great position to take control of the site and start the main building construction phase. Having already collaborated with VINCI Building in the pre-construction phase, we know they share our vision and commitment to deliver this complex scheme successfully.
“The brand new venue will create new jobs, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, and provide a world-class events venue for our borough and the Liverpool City Region. We remain fully committed to seeing this project through and securing the long-term economic and cultural benefits it will bring for all of us.”
Speaking earlier this year Gary Hughes, Regional Director for VINCI Building said:
“This is an incredibly exciting project for VINCI Building, and we are delighted to be appointed as preferred contractor. It gives our delivery team great opportunities to collaborate even more closely with local businesses and the Sefton community in delivering this flagship development.
“The benefits for the whole area will be substantial, both throughout the construction and long after completion, as we help drive forward Sefton Council’s vision of attracting major events to Southport.”
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