Last demolition phase underway for Blackpool Central
The former Bonny Street police station is being flattened, clearing the way for the town’s flagship £300m project.
The first stage of Blackpool Central was completed last year, in the shape of a 1,300-capacity car park, and towards the end of the year DSM Demolition was contracted to knock down the police station building, along with the former municipal courts and a joke shop on Central Drive.
DSM’s work is funded from Blackpool’s Town Deal allocation. Lancashire Police vacated the site in 2018. The job is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
The adjacent former court complex has now been cleared. The courts were due to make way for Blackpool Central anyway, but its final closure was sped up by the discovery of RAAC in late 2023.
A new £40m courthouse for Blackpool is in the works, with a replacement contractor being sought since the downfall of former partner ISG in autumn last year.
Blackpool Council launched a tender exercise at the start of May to appoint a consultancy that will help it attract international investors for the £300m Blackpool Central, original developer Nikal having gone into administration in late 2024.
Proposals for the 10-acre site include 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.
There’s nothing funny about demolishing the Joke shop…
By Indigoicl
We do not need a flying theatre
We do need a venue on the site where acts like Katy Perry can perform on stage
By Samantha Slater
The market needs to come back
By Lesley Ann beech
Yes I think visitors used to look forward to the market it’s not the same anymore Blackpool s markets you had two and they have both gone myself unnecessary what have people got left and then the people who’s jobs have gone you could of done the market up and extended it now they have nothing everyone loves a market and I bet you didn’t even ask people’s opinion on what counts for them people shouldn’t be so selfish
By Mrs Debra cocks
Another crazy idea from blackpool ( leaders.) You mean another eyesore car park for next 20 years
By Anonymous
What the heck is a flying theatre? And I agree with Lesley Ann Beech the market does need to come.back, worst decision ever made was getting rid of Bonny st market 😞
By Brian
Yes,the market needs to come back,and we do not need a flying theatre,the idea is crazy.we need good investments for our city and community, so we have more jobs.
By Anonymous
We need a stadium that will attract the big performers and thousands of visitors to Blackpool.
By K Foster
Something needs to be done at the back streets of the prom and to many empty shops on show that have gone derelict even empty shops should be kept nice as it is holiday resort
By Sue Thornton
All money being spent in town well the rest of Blackpool suffering. Southshore and north needs a lot of investment place looks terrible.
By Anonymous
the market went down hill sometime ago will be nice to see a new hotel in it’s place that also very central to everything
By M Hughes
That is all well and good but what about the other end town all run down at the Pleasure Beach shops all closed down like a ghost town.
By Stewart
There is word that the market is coming back
By Anonymous
Flying theatre? Insane. But hey, you voted them in!
By Rita