VINCI begins £100m Blackpool civil service hub
Muse Developments has appointed the contractor to build the 215,000 sq ft town centre office, with work due to complete in March 2025.
VINCI Building has begun work on the £100m office development, which could house up to 3,000 civil servants once complete.
Designed by Make Architects, it is understood the seven-storey office will be the new home for civil servants already based in Blackpool, such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence.
The seven-storey civil service hub is being constructed on a 2.4-acre site bounded by Deansgate, King Street, Cookson Street, Charles Street and East Topping Street.
Through the building’s design and construction, Muse is hoping the development can achieve BREEAM Outstanding accreditation.
In addition, work to reduce the development’s impact on the environment in the construction phase will see embodied carbon levels of 800 kgCO 2 e/m2, compared with 1100kgCO 2 e/m2 for a typical office development, according to the developer.
“Low energy and low carbon design and material choice has been at the heart of decision making and this will result in a truly energy efficient, low carbon building that we can all be proud of,” said Garry Bowker, regional managing director at VINCI Building.
“It has been a real team effort through the pre-construction phase, and we look forward to this continuing.”
VINCI is now on site. Credit: via Blackpool Council
The development forms part of the £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration.
Other elements of the project include a new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station, which is nearing completion.
The interchange forms part of phase two of Talbot Gateway along with a new 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel, which will open later this year.
The long-standing partnership between Muse and Blackpool Council, has already delivered the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket, and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park.
“We’re focused with partners as we re-energise the town centre, by delivering a place that blends the town’s rich history with its aspirations for the future,” said Alan McBride, projects director at Muse.
“As a business, we’re committed to creating places with purpose for people that offer tangible environmental and social benefits to local communities, and are looking forward to seeing the building progress.”
Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, added: “This is the third phase of the Talbot Gateway development we have now delivered in partnership with Muse and we are pleased to welcome VINCI Building to that partnership and are looking forward to working with them and the social value benefits they can bring to our town through this contract.
“It is fantastic to see this development start on site and is a great start to the New Year. Throughout the pandemic, we were determined to push on with our regeneration of Blackpool and it is really exciting to see so much of our vision for the future coming to fruition.”
The wider project team features Avison Young as planning consultant, Chroma as project manager, Hannan Associates advising on MEP, Reform as landscape architect, and The Alan Johnston Partnership as structural engineer. Arup is also advising on fire and transport.
Cundall and Hannan are providing support on sustainability and Peter Connell Associates is the access consultant. RPS is on board as quantity surveyor.
3,000 employees- where are the cars going to park?.
Isn’t it wonderful to watch all these 100’s of millions of pounds being spent on the town centre whilst one can walk down Dickson Road/Talbot Road, Coronation Street and enjoy looking at the many empty, boarded up and derelict shops- reminds one of a 3rd world nation, but hey , as long as Blackpool has a “nice town centre” nothing/nowhere else matters.
By Robert Cox
DWP already has a fairly modern site at PeeL Park so not sure why this is necessary. I can only presume the land at Peel is a goldmine waiting to be sold to the highest bidder. I’m also not convinced there are enough traffic options for staff.
By Right Build Right Place
Building this in the centre of Blackpool is a good move – close to main railway station and helping spend in local businesses.
By SW
I think it’s worth noting that while 3,000 people may be employed at the site, with hybrid working, days off etc, there won’t be near 3,000 people on site at any one time.
Peel Park has to have a lot of parking due to it’s location and that is one of the joys of this office being in the town centre, there are more transport options with many Blackpool buses having quite a good frequency already and potential for more buses to be on the road. Trams have quite a low frequency too so plenty of spare trams to send out on the tracks (morning peak is every 20 mins using 7 trams. Blackpool has 18 trams available and can run every 7.5 minutes). Huge increases in capacity available for workers who live locally. Plus upto 5 trains per hour linking east towards Preston. There is plenty of capacity too on the trains.
All of this capacity but people can’t make use of it as Peel Park is so far away from the transport options. This move will mean a lot more people ditching their cars and using public transport to get into the office. Anyone who chooses to still drive could make use of the existing and/or proposed multi story car parks which are around the town (albeit some slightly further walk and not on the doorstep).
By Anonymous
Will it be a reinforced concrete frame building and will there be work on site for local joiners
By Nigel Webber
Relocating to a town centre location may be more sustainable but t will cause a lot of existing civil ervants to retire who don’t want to use public transport. I also question whether a town cente location will result in more problems with recruitment and retention in the longer term.
By Anonymous
I was very nice of the council to ask people who live on king street if they want to move out of their homes of 14+ year to make this building. Never once was I approached over this construction I had to find out about it over social media that I would soonish loose my home.
By King street tenant
Sod all consideration for residents in Blackpool & unique amenities & quality of life. Predatory speculative purchasing practices instead of integrity. Usual pledges of support that are meaningless; one goal to get you get by any means possible.
Destroying Blackpool bit by bit.
More accessible; just what you need for a non public access building.
By Daniel Hillary