Work set to start on Southport arena

Sefton Council has appointed VINCI Building as the preferred contractor for the delivery of its Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) in Southport.

As part of a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA), VINCI Building will be working closely with the Council’s project team over the coming months. Construction work on the ambitious waterfront development is set to begin later this year.

The MLEC is the flagship project of Southport’s Town Deal and a cornerstone of the borough’s regeneration plans. It will be a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue for entertainment, conferences and events, replacing the old Southport Theatre with a modern 1,200-seat auditorium and exhibition space.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We are pleased to welcome VINCI Building as the preferred contractor for MLEC.

“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.”

Gary Hughes, Regional Director for VINCI Building, added: “This is an incredibly exciting project for us, and we are delighted to be appointed as the 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.”