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.
Something will get built on the site, eventually. Probably a shed with a stage and a bit of seating.
By Mr S Ceptical
The question that really comes to mind is the underlying business plan, how does a venue create the mix of revenues (particularly off season) to justify the development in this location. Good luck to the developers and the operational team in pulling this together and crating an operational success as well as the destination of choice for the Fylde and North Liverpool….
By TJL
Who’s doing it next month?
By Phil Ingham
How will it be any different and more successful than the existing theatre and convention centre?
By Albert
The questions are ;
How much money have Sefton wasted over the years trying to procure this monstrosity ?
How much time and energy have they wasted (would like to see the associated carbon footprint), not only of their own, but Grahams and KIERS ?
Just take another look at the CGI of the theatre on the header of this article… is this really what Southport needs, in this location ? Seriously ?
I understand the Bootle project, its a good one and hats off to all parties involved.
But I am sorry, the game has well and truly gone with this one…..
By Albert Pierrepoint
Fingers crossed that all issues have been sorted this time and things can start for real. Hopefully it will give confidence to some new hoteliers… there is a lack of quality options in the town. B&B’s / small hotels are not for everyone and as Britannia has ruined three of the main stays of old, one or two new quality hotels wouldn’t go a miss. When you’re recommending a Premier Inn (no offence, they’re a safe bet) to a friend visiting from Scotland as a good option in a seaside town it makes you think…
By G McCain
Considering that three contractors have already taken their turn at this, it’s becoming wonderfully clear that the client’s ambitious wish list and the budget they’re actually prepared to release are… let’s say, not exactly compatible. So let’s see what miraculous result we can conjure from whatever the contractor can so generously afford.
By Steve5839
Another Morrisons on the way then ?
By Anonymous
Well, lets see if Vinci can pull a rabbit out of the hat with this one… No doubt they’ll get stuck in and they in 12 months time we’ll hear of a budget increase! There are some clear discrepancies between the budget and aspirations if the others have had to walk away
By JB
Third time luck perhaps, Vinci is a massive construction company owned mainly by Vanguard and BlackRock with some worker share holding. Alas, delivering it for £73 million might be too much of an ask as VANGUARD & BlackRock aren’t charitable organisations that will deliver it as a lost. Sefton Council Taxpayers need to watch the Council borrowings increasing by Marion and Sefton Labour to try to hang on to the leadership of the Council in the All-out elections in May. Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited (SHOL) is a fine example of Sefton Labour dabbling in hospitality initiatives and failing year in, year out with losses a plenty and Councillors asking questions at full council being told the losses are hidden that old nutmeg ” Company commercial sensitivity”. Watch this space!
By John Rice
Not as nice as the concept designs – but fingers crossed this gets built and is the catalyst for further improvements and a big help to the local economy – particularly the b&b’s and bars in the Northern Quarter which have suffered a lot since Covid.
By Sandgrounder
Please don’t hold your breath folks
By Anonymous
Who on earth is going to have a a conference with 2400 people in Southport?
How about building something for the actual Southport residents? Like a big medical centre and a dentist we can all go to!
By BarneyMagrue
And when does the work on the Pier start with that 20million Reeves gave the council?
By BarneyMagrue
It’s a pity the Pier is ignored and the shopping in areas in Southport are a disgrace I live in Southport but I will not go shopping in the town and Lord Street is not looked after at all.
By Anonymous
What on earth is going on with Southport… it has the potential to be great and has the coastal advantage but it’s just in decline and not competing. What are tourism and council doing? With the pier closed the theatre flattened, no anchor shopping offer. At least about 10 years ago it had the bridal, boutique and jewelry offer and nice little shops. What is being done to drive footfall? The fancy hotel on front next to the theatre site looks empty with gangs drinking on the steps. Come on Sefton save this great seaside place!
By Mary S
This is NOT a £73m scheme – that is the 2022 figure. This will cost more towards £100m and Sefton will have to fork the difference. Article misses £20m from Liverpool City Region – money that is there for truly game-changing strategic projects – is this white elephant really good value for money?!
Tough choices needed. Sefton needs to work with the LCR Mayor and look at the bigger picture here
By Tough Choices
You are correct regarding the figure not being £73m – and the story states that and also mentions that a new figure has not been disclosed. Thanks for reading.
By Julia Hatmaker