DWP confirmed for 215,000 sq ft Blackpool office 

Muse Developments and Blackpool Council have agreed a deal with the Department for Work and Pensions to relocate 3,000 civil servants into the £50m Talbot Gateway building. 

The 215,000 sq ft building has long been earmarked for a government occupier, but the council had declined to confirm rumours that the office would house civil servants relocating from offices in and around Blackpool. 

Leases on sites around the Fylde coast currently occupied by the DWP are due to expire soon, prompting the need for a new hub in line with government’s desire to streamline its UK administrative functions. 

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey, said: “Moving more than 3,000 DWP staff into this state-of-the-art sustainable building in Talbot Gateway will drive footfall in the town centre and support Blackpool’s economic growth as the country builds back better from the pandemic.” 

Designed by Make Architects, the scheme is due to be given final approval when Blackpool’s planning committee meets next week. 

During the scheme’s inception, partners completed early-stage whole life and upfront embodied carbon assessments, according to Muse. 

This results in the scheme aiming to reduce its upfront embodied carbon intensity to 800 kgCO2e/m2, compared with 1100kgCO2e/m2 for a typical office development. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the DWP to Talbot Gateway with our latest sustainable building becoming its new home,” said Mike Horner, development director at Muse. 

“This is a resounding endorsement of our collective commitment to bringing forward developments that offer tangible environmental and social outputs to benefit local communities.” 

The project is the latest element of the £350m Talbot Gateway to come forward. The scheme aims to create a new 1.1m sq ft central business district and civic quarter in Blackpool town centre. 

So far, a 125,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket close to Blackpool North train station has been delivered, along with a 120,000 sq ft office development, No1 Bickerstaffe Square.    

In addition, contractor Robertson is on site delivering a 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel on the site of the former Wilko store. Nearby, John Sisk & Son is working to link up the promenade tramway with Blackpool North train station, creating an interchange building and terminus. 

Leader of Blackpool Council Cllr Lynn Williams, said: “We have been working on our collective vision with partners Muse to introduce a new Fylde Coast Civil Service Hub for several years and we are thrilled that DWP share our vision and are committed to this long-term investment. 

“The relocation of just over 3,000 employees will bring considerably more footfall into the area, with a massive boost to local businesses, retailers, restaurants and cafes, but also bringing new, high quality job opportunities for local residents.” 

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Is this relocation of new jobs from London or moving staff to a new office?

By Meeseeks

pity there is no staff parking

By don

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