Dozens of parking spaces lost in Southport as preparations to demolish the Theatre continue

Dozens of parking spaces have been lost in Southport as preparations to demolish the Theatre continue. Parking spaces along the Promenade have been lost between the Waterfront and the Theatre car park.

All of the parking behind the Theatre has also been lost.

Work is now underway on the future site of the Marine Lake Events Centre, in line with the programme schedule for the Southport Town Deal.

Hoardings are now being erected around the site, and service diversions are being undertaken, as Sefton Council and its partners begin the first stage of physical works to create the exciting, multi-use centre in the heart of Southport.

Historic
The works, carried out by the Local Authority’s appointed contractor Kier, will see historic assets from Southport Theatre and Convention Centre safely removed and preserved prior to the demolition of the existing building.

It is expected that demolition works will take a number of months, but first major utility diversions will be undertaken that will see critical work to water and electrical connections around the site.

Detailed feedback from community engagement carried out by Sefton Council and it partners has helped guide each stage of the Marine Lake Events Centre project.

Economy
Located on the site of the former Southport Theatre, the state-of-the-art, £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre will be a flexible events space. It is expected to bring more than half a million new visitors to Southport each year and generate an annual £18 million boost for the local economy. This will, in turn, lead to a significant number of job opportunities.

The Marine Lake Events Centre is one of the schemes being developed as a result of the successful bid for £37.5m of Town Deal funding for Southport. A significant proportion of this funding is for the Centre, as well as for the Light Fantastic, a water, light and sound show in the adjacent Marine Lake.