Blackpool to adopt town centre action plan
Improving public realm and exploring the possibility of expanding the Grundy Art Gallery are among the interventions and initiatives set out in a strategy aimed at sprucing up the coastal town.
Blackpool Council’s executive will meet next week to sign off the five-year plan, which will guide the future direction of strategic development in the town centre, and support the development of future funding bids and business cases.
Working with CBRE, the council has identified six areas for intervention. These are:
- Public realm
- Zoning and districts
- Community
- Events and meanwhile uses
- Culture and entertainment
- Heritage
Already, £1.5m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has been earmarked for improvements to signage, lighting, and streetscape.
Much of the action plan focuses on continuing to support regeneration projects in the town, including Nikal’s £300m Blackpool Central, the ongoing regeneration of Talbot Gateway, which is being led by Muse Developments, and the expansion of Houndshill Shopping Centre.
Other initiatives outlined in the action plan include exploring the possibility of expanding Grundy Art Gallery and Central Library on Queen Street and looking into “overarching regeneration requirements in the immediate vicinity”.
In addition, the action plan sets out a plan to upgrade a series of “priority streets” including Bank Hey Street, Victoria Street, Church Street, Birley Street and Topping Street.
Read a full list of the action plan initiatives.
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