VINCI to deliver £73m+ Marine Lake Events Centre

Third time’s the charm? Sefton Council has named VINCI Building the preferred contractor for the landmark Southport venue after deals fell through with Kier and GRAHAM last year.

VINCI is due to commence main construction works later this year, with major civil engineering works beginning next month.

When VINCI completes the scheme, the Marine Lake Events Centre will boast a 1,200-seat theatre, 2,400-capacity conference centre, and various offices, food and beverage offering, meeting rooms, and production facilities. It will sit on the Promenade on the site of the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.

Sefton Council has stated that MLEC will generate £19m for the local economy each year, bringing in 500,000 visitors and supporting 280 jobs.

The Marine Lake Events Centre’s delivery struggles have centred around costs, with the project having been given a £73m budget in 2022. This included £33m from the £37.5m Southport Town Deal and £20m in borrowing.

Last year, a council report revealed that increased construction cost inflation, labour costs, and work packages had led to an increased price tag for the scheme – one that could not be value engineered out without impacting the quality of the building or subsequent business plan. An updated budget for MLEC has not been disclosed.

Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson praised the appointment of VINCI as preferred contractor.

“Having already collaborated with VINCI Building in the pre-construction phase, we know they share our vision and commitment to deliver this complex and ambitious scheme successfully,” Atkinson said.

“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,” she continued.

“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, added: “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.”

This will be a busy year for VINCI in Sefton – in addition to starting on MLEC, the contractor is due to start construction in March on the £30m first phase of Sefton Council’s revamp of Bootle Strand.