A better Blackpool

Blackpool Central

A £300 million development which will bring world-class visitor attractions to a landmark site on the famous Golden Mile. A range of indoor attractions will be built, including a flying theatre, the world’s first multimedia exhibition of its kind and the most advanced virtual reality experience on an epic scale.

It is estimated that the development will attract 600,000 additional visitors a year with a combined annual spend of £75m. It will also create 1,000 new jobs for people in Blackpool.

New hotels

The development of several hotels will attract more business into the town, creating new jobs and apprenticeships for local people, as well as more places to eat. The latest £multi-million hotels include Blackpool’s first 5-star accommodation, the Sands Resort Hotel & Spa, located on the Promenade, and a new 150 room Premier Inn on Talbot Square. There will also be a four-star Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant as part of Talbot Gateway, near Sainsbury’s and Blackpool North Station – expected to be complete in 2022.

Modern streets

Updating and modernising key streets in Blackpool to create a more modern, fresh and appealing look and feel. Thanks to funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal, a £7.8m facelift will see resurfaced roads, better pavements, more crossings, more benches, bins and cycle parking.

Conference centre

A 21^st Century state-of-the-art conference centre is being built, encouraging more people to stay and shop in our town. The brand new conference centre will directly link to the refurbished Empress Ballroom and Opera House increasing the Winter Gardens overall capacity to over 7,000 delegates. 

Talbot Gateway

The Talbot Gateway is the town's central business district which includes new offices, a Sainsbury’s superstore, retail units and a new public transport interchange at Blackpool North station. A new road layout and modern pavements have helped to transform the once run-down area in the north of the town centre, creating a new vibrant place to work and do business. The latest phase of works involves the demolition of the former Wilko store building, making way for the brand-new transport interchange, new underpass, a four-star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, and new retail outlets.

Better public transport and travel

More trams on the network and more frequent services. The extension to the tramway will connect North Station to the Promenade giving a direct link to shops, hotels and attractions. There will be a modern and electrified rail line which is cleaner, greener, quieter and more reliable, getting you to where you need to be to shop, work and enjoy Blackpool. The roadworks phase of the project was completed in February 2019 and further tram extension works linking to the train station will commence in spring 2021.

Blackpool Museum – Showtown

Showtown Blackpool will be the UK’s first museum to feature permanent displays on circus, magic, variety, and ballroom dance - filled with 800+ objects from the town’s extensive collections and those on loan from our national partners, including the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This £13m project, due to open on the Promenade within the next couple of years, will be designed like no other museum, telling personal stories, highlighting how Blackpool has touched the lives of millions.

Blackpool Council Photo credit - Lorne Campbell (Guzelian)

Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone

The Enterprise Zone spans land at Squires Gate, Blackpool Business Park and Blackpool Airport. The vision is to attract more than 180 new businesses, help create up to 5000 new jobs and securing over £300m private sector investment. Since April 2016, it's attracted 114 new companies and more than 1600 new jobs for the area. 

Work is on track to create a new eastern gateway access road, new sports facilities at the Common Edge Road playing fields, suitable for activities including football, rugby and hockey. 

Digital Vision

Blackpool is undergoing a digital transformation and is at the forefront of new generation digital connectivity. Whether this is making sure that residents and businesses have access to the latest full fibre gigabit connectivity, or split second internet speeds across the Atlantic and to Northern Europe, Blackpool is driving forward with a new Digital Strategy for the town.

Improving schools and education

Blackpool is one of 12 funded areas taking part in the Department for Education’s opportunity area programme.

Each area is working in partnership with local schools, businesses, charities and partner organisations to overcome the barriers that hold children and young people back.

The programme supports children and young people in Blackpool, helping them to go as far as their talents and ambition will take them.

Town Deal

Blackpool is one of 101 UK towns that's secured a £39.5m new 'Town Deal' – a huge boost to the town’s regeneration and post Covid-19 economic recovery.

This will be funded through the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, a Government scheme that will help improve where we live, work and play, create jobs and boost the local economy. As part of the deal, which was secured as part of the Towns Funding programme, Blackpool Council and the newly-established Town Deal Board has proposed a range of projects that will help transform the town.

New retail and leisure

We're delighted to share that Blackpool has successfully secured £8.6m for two key town centre 'shovel ready' projects that will rejuvenate the town centre and provide a well needed economic boost, post Covid-19.

The two projects Houndshill Shopping Centre Phase Two development and the regeneration of Abingdon Street Market, secured funding through the Government's Getting Building Fund and approval from Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), as projects that will be delivered fast and create jobs for the town.