Vinci Building has signed a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) with Sefton Council for the Marine Lake Events Centre and will be working with the council鈥檚 project team for the next few months to get the waterfront development out of the ground.
Vinci is the council鈥檚 third choice for the project after negotiations with both Kier and John Graham 萝莉原创 fell through last year.
The Marine Lake Events Centre will be a multi-purpose venue for entertainment, conferences and events, replacing the old Southport Theatre with a 1,200-seat auditorium and exhibition space.
The council said that main construction works will begin on site later in 2026, once a main contract is signed but much enabling work has already been completed, including the demolition of the old theatre and extensive sheet piling along the lakefront for new retaining walls.
Sefton Council was already working with Vinci Building on the Bootle Strand regeneration project.
Council leader Marion Atkinson said: 鈥淗aving 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.
鈥淭he 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.鈥�
Vinci Building regional director Gary Hughes said: 鈥淭his 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.
鈥淭he benefits for the whole area will be substantial, both throughout the construction and long after completion, as we help drive forward Sefton Council鈥檚 vision of attracting major events to Southport.鈥�