Southport residents will see that work has now begun on the Enterprise Arcade, a brand-new digital and creativity work hub in the heart of the town. 

A speciality construction and refurbishment group from Merseyside is leading the creation of Southport’s of the brand new Enterprise Arcade at the former Crown Buildings on Eastbank Street. 

A team from Liverpool firm Skyline Property Solutions Ltd are on site leading on the interior refurbishment and refit of Crown Buildings into the much-anticipated new space for digital and creative start-ups and scale-ups. 

While the face of the building won't change, scaffolding has been erected to help facilitate the refurbishment works and keep passers-by safe. 

The Enterprise Arcade will be the town’s first creative and digitally-focused space for start-up and growing businesses and entrepreneurs. Town Deal funding of £1.5 million has been earmarked for the scheme, which will see the Crown Buildings reimagined to create almost 900m2 of space for digital and creative start-ups and scale-ups. 

Leading North West digital expert Jon Corner, who helped drive technology sector businesses to Media City in Salford, will also be joining the Enterprise Arcade project team. 

Tenants expected to start moving into the building by the end of 2024. 

The Enterprise Arcade project reaffirms the commitment of Sefton Council and its partners to maximising the potential of the digital, creative and technological sectors within the resort. It also demonstrates their support for the ongoing diversification of the Borough’s economy and the continued growth of entrepreneurship in Sefton. 

Cllr Christine Howard, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: "I'm delighted that work has now started on this key project. 

“The new, repurposed workspace will join Southport’s regenerated and already successful Market in demonstrating how new life can be brought back to these fantastic buildings, encouraging more investment and helping secure a positive future for the town. 

“Our Enterprise Arcade will be the ideal location for a whole host of start-up and growing businesses and individuals, whether they be in the early incubator stages of developing their brand or simply in need of flexibility and an agile approach to their working practices.”