Sefton Council has selected international contractor VINCI Building as its preferred partner to deliver Southport’s Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC).

The company has entered a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) and will now work alongside the Council’s project team to advance the scheme.

Under the PCSA, both parties will refine designs, programme and costs, with the intention of signing a main contract later in 2026 so that full construction can begin on site.

Ahead of that, visible activity will step up in February when major civil engineering works get underway.

A separate specialist will construct a new access ramp linking the Upper Promenade to the events centre site. This key piece of infrastructure will enable safe movement of heavy plant and materials during the principal build phase.

Significant enabling works have already taken place in recent months, including reduced-level excavations, substantial sheet piling along the lake edge and the installation of new retaining walls.

These followed the safe, considerate demolition of the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, during which important historical and cultural artefacts were preserved. Together, the works have prepared the ground so the main build can proceed on schedule.

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Sefton Council and VINCI Building are already collaborating on the first phase of the authority’s flagship Bootle Strand regeneration, a track record that the Council says strengthens confidence in VINCI’s capacity to deliver one of the region’s most complex regeneration schemes.

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

"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.

"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 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."

MLEC is the headline project within Southport's Town Deal and a central element of Sefton's wider regeneration programme. The scheme will deliver a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue for entertainment, conferences and events, replacing the former Southport Theatre with a modern 1,200-seat auditorium and exhibition facilities.

Once complete, it is forecast to attract more than 500,000 visitors each year and to add over £19 million annually to the local economy.