Blackpool recruits duo to draw up fresh plan for £300m leisure opportunity

Consultancy Newmark and Theleisureway, a Spanish architectural practice, have been appointed to develop a new vision for one of the council’s flagship development projects and lure investors and occupiers to the scheme.

The £300m Blackpool Central was previously being led by Nikal. However, the developer went bust in 2024 having delivered just one element of the project, a 1,300-space car park.

Nikal’s proposals included a 127,000 sq ft flying theatre, two indoor theme parks, a 200-bedroom hotel, 70,000 sq ft public square, and an array of bars and restaurants in the heart of the seaside town.

However, given the passage of time between the approval of those plans and Nikal’s collapse, Blackpool has recruited Newmark and Theleisureway to review the consented plans and come up with a fresh masterplan.

The 10-acre site was once home to Blackpool Central station and was previously earmarked for a supercasino that never materialised.

Part of the plot was, until recently, occupied by the town’s court complex. These buildings have now been demolished with the help of a £6.95m government grant, creating a shovel-ready site, according to the council.

The two companies were selected following an open tender process, after first hearing about the scheme and Blackpool’s wider ambitions for regeneration at MIPIM earlier this year. Blackpool Council came to MIPIM for the first time in 2025 as part of Place North’s delegation.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said the council was open minded about what could come forward on the site.

“I believe that this has the potential to be one of the most exciting investment sites in the country,” she said.

“Given the location, it needs to be some form of leisure use, but we have an open mind about what exactly that could be, as long as it creates all year-round quality jobs and visitor experiences. The consultants have committed that, as with all our projects, they will speak to the community to understand what can have the biggest impact on the town.”

Will Chamberlain, associate director of new business within Newmark’s retail consultancy and analytics team, said: “Our ambition is to attract investment that activates the town’s vision and drives wider regeneration across Blackpool

“This is a pivotal opportunity for Blackpool, and over the next 12 months, our focus will be on building momentum, engaging the right partners and laying the foundations for long-term success.”

Gastón Gaitán, founder and chief executive of Theleisureway, said: “We understand leisure as an emotional state of mind, a way of feeling good. At Blackpool, we aim to not only create a destination of leisure, but rather a destination of life.

“This is an opportunity to create a new generation space, connecting with the town heritage, bringing global trends that attract both locals and tourists, and making an impact on local businesses.

“Blackpool has a unique personality and needs its own recipe. Our goal is to craft a tailor-made leisure ecosystem that blends with the surroundings and delivers an emotional and economical value that elevates the attractiveness of the area.”