DWP confirmed for 215,000 sq ft Blackpool office 

With the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on the horizon, the Lancashire town is throwing its hat into the ring to become a city, joining Crewe, Doncaster and Warwick.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has granted operational control of the facility to a council-owned subsidiary, paving the way for further investment in the site, which is a key part of the 355-acre Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. 

The council has acquired the 280,000 sq ft shopping centre from Tristan Capital and Addington Capital for almost £5m under the asking price. 

The digital warfare centre will be built in Samlesbury, a village in South Ribble that is also home to an aircraft factory for aerospace defence company BAE Systems.

The council set up Tawd Valley Developments in 2018 to boost the delivery of homes in the borough, but the authority has now decided to commission an external assessment of the company's business plan amid uncertainty over its trading position. 

The local authority wants to acquire the 280,000 sq ft Charter Walk from investors Tristan Capital and Addington Capital. 

The authority has taken ownership of 17 acres next to Trafford Housing Trust’s proposed 330-home Penwortham Mills development to progress plans to upgrade Vernon Carus Sports Club. 

The city council has entered into a collaboration agreement with Lancashire County Council to progress plans that could unlock land for up to 9,000 homes to the south of the city. 

Wilson Mason will be the architect for the South Ribble Borough community’s £25m regeneration schemes, which focus on revamping the town centre, improving Leyland Market and creating a business hub.