Sefton Council has announced the practical completion of the Enterprise Arcade, a project funded via the Southport Town Deal by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, along with confirmation that Hatters Digital Marketing Agency will be the first tenant of Southport’s new £1.5 million venture on Eastbank Street.

A Hub for Digital and Creative Start-Ups

Part of the Southport Town Investment Plan, the 8,000sq ft building provides high-quality workspace and modern amenities for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses in the digital and creative sectors. The Enterprise Arcade aims to become a central hub for these businesses, providing a strong foundation to grow this vital sector of Sefton's economy while creating new jobs, developing skills, and opening opportunities for the local community.

Project Delivered on Time and Budget

Practical completion was achieved on the project on the 19^th of May 2025, with the project delivered on budget, fully funded by the Town Deal funding received following Southport’s successful bid for a range of strategic projects.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council said:

“Southport’s Enterprise Arcade is part of our ambitious, long-term investment strategy to transform Sefton’s town centres into thriving, collaborative spaces for modern businesses and for modern living.

“We are delighted to have completed the scheme to the high standards of quality we anticipated. We are particularly proud to have completed the scheme on budget, which is a challenge given continued inflationary pressures in the construction industry, especially for a project comprising refurbishment works within a heritage asset such as the Atkinson and Town Hall complex.

"Our working partnership with Skyline, the main contractor on the scheme, has been a successful one.

“With Hatters’ move into the Enterprise Arcade, we’re about to see our vision of creating innovative hubs for local businesses to grow and thrive, become a reality.

“Vibrant, flexible workspaces like this are essential to attracting talent, encouraging innovation, and ensuring our towns are dynamic places to live, work, do business and flourish.”

Sarah Jackson, Hatters Digital Agency’s founder and owner said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to be the first tenant in such a forward-thinking space at the heart of Southport.

“As a digital agency, we thrive on creativity and collaboration and the new hub on Eastbank Street offers the perfect environment to grow, connect, and share ideas with others who share that mindset.

“This move is a real commitment to our future in Southport and a chance to be part of something bigger, a catalyst for positive change in the town.

“The vision of creating a supportive, accessible, and innovative space that nurtures local talent and encourages entrepreneurship aligns perfectly with our values at Hatter’s. Southport needs this now more than ever, and we’re proud to be part of it from the very beginning.”

Complementing Wider Town Regeneration

The Enterprise Arcade complements other major Town Deal regeneration initiatives in Southport. These include the development of the £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre, which is underway, and the transformation of Southport Market into a popular modern food hall. This development sits at the heart of change in Southport Town Centre with a programme of public realm improvements taking shape across this area, the first phase of Les Transformations de Southport, which once completed will provide the perfect setting and will encourage further investment in this area of town.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport said:

“It’s great to see the work Sefton Council is doing in Southport.

“The investment in the Enterprise Arcade scheme is well received, on top of multi- million-pound investments in the Market Quarter and the new Exhibition Centre.

“The facilities are world class, the view down King Street phenomenal, and the improvement to the town centre is notable. 

“In addition, the council’s state-led investment programme will have a hugely positive impact on the ability of the town to attract private sector backing.

“By working together with partners, great things are happening in Southport, and I’m so very happy to be able to support it.”

Local support for the new industry hub has been overwhelming. Over 180 responses to the consultation were received with the feedback confirmed there is strong demand for this kind of flexible, collaborative workspace. This view reflects broader trends in the region’s economy, with growing momentum in Sefton’s creative and digital business sectors and the need for more premium office space.

Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Southport Town Deal board, said:

“We are delighted to see completion of the Enterprise Arcade and to see a fast-growing business move in as the first of a number of tenants. The Town Deal board continues to support delivery of all of the funded projects, which remain integral to the future of Southport, its town centre and its economy”.

For more information or to enquire about workspace opportunities you should email regen@sefton.gov.uk