Plans in for £25m Blackpool museum

A change of use application to turn part of the grade two-listed Blackpool Winter Gardens into a museum celebrating the heritage of the seaside resort has been submitted, along with a bid for £15m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Blackpool Council is planning to convert the Pavilion, Horseshoe and Fly Tower areas of the Winter Gardens, which date back to the 19th-century, into a 35,000 sq ft Museum of Blackpool.

The application from Buttress Architects seeks permission for conservation and refurbishment works, alterations to make way for the museum, and partial demolition of storage buildings on Adelaide Street to create a new entrance.

The museum aims to bring together artefacts, stories and memories, which together tell the story of the seaside resort.

A £1.2m Heritage Lottery Fund grant was secured in May 2014, which paid for the first development phase.

The application for the second phase of funding seeks a further £15m.

Overall the project is expected to cost £25m, of which the council is investing £2m, and is fundraising for £8m in donations.

The museum will include 20,000 sq ft of permanent exhibition space, 2,500 sq ft for temporary exhibitions, and 6,000 sq ft for learning and rehearsal space for performances, with a 120-seat lecture theatre.

 

An early stage concept drawing of the Museum by Buttress which supported the 2014 HLF submission

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