Blackpool Airport expansion continues with five fresh hangars

The local authority has set up Blackpool Tourism, which will take full ownership of the landmark and Madame Tussauds, replacing previous operator Merlin Entertainments.

With one of the largest transformation programmes in the UK, there is a reason why large developers and investors are turning their attention to Britain’s favourite seaside resort, writes Nick Gerrard of Blackpool Council.

Armed with an initial £90m from Homes England to get the project going, Blackpool Council is seeking permission in principle to use compulsory purchase powers to assemble around 10 acres off Central Drive for the first phase.

The Department for Work and Pensions is now able to host 3,000 employees in the £100m workspace off King Street after chief contractor VINCI rounded off construction.

Fragrance Group wants to deliver spaces for 103 vehicles on the site of the former St Chads Hotel while detailed designs for a £30m hotel are worked up and a globally recognised occupier secured.

A tender exercise has been launched by Blackpool Council, which wants to appoint a consultancy to attract international investors to the £300m project.

Reworked plans from Southbeach Streetfood for a shipping-container food and beverage venue on a half-acre along Blackpool Promenade have been recommended for approval.

Sign-off has been given for officers to finalise terms with Muse to deliver 53,000 sq ft of offices at the former Apollo site, and to enter into a lease agreement with the proposed public sector occupier.

The two floors directly above the Albert and Lion pub can be redeveloped into 24 flats after revised plans cut 41 apartments from the original proposal.

In plans now lodged with the local authority, Energi Generation wants to co-locate a 13MW ground-mounted solar farm east of Peel Road with an already approved battery energy storage system.

A vacant restaurant unit on the corner of the Promenade and Church Street is earmarked to house the American chain, which is taking a third stab at breaking the UK market.

Blackpool Council has been recommended to approve reserved matters for the more than 116,000 sq ft educational facility, which would bring almost 3,000 students and staff into the town centre when Blackpool and The Fylde College relocates to the site.

Blackpool Council plans to dispose of land close to the airport for industrial, office, or warehousing use.

From data centres in Blackpool to space centres in Newcastle, a panel of Northern leaders set out their investment propositions on the global stage and discussed how the North can work together to make them a reality.

“Blackpool has already made great waves in regeneration, so why not invest here?” said Emma Ratcliffe, head of business development for the North West at Morgan Sindall Construction as the firm heads to MIPIM as one of the council’s trusted delivery partners.

The government has given the council the green light to acquire the remaining land and properties required to unlock the 115,000 sq ft education and skills project.

A scoping report has been submitted for the Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration Area, where phase one will see 400 homes replaced by 280 homes, open space and public realm.

From data centres to devolution, the first Place North West conference of 2025 will provide you with everything you need to know about the county’s development landscape.

The long-expected transformation of the former Abingdon Street Post Office has been set in motion after Blackpool Council entered an £8m grant funding agreement with Ashall Hospitality to reconfigure the grade two-listed building into a 148-bedroom hotel.