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 the UK’s first 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.

Shop, eat and stay

There will be new places to shop, eat and stay, including the new Premier Inn on Talbot Square (pictured) due to open soon, providing more options for accommodation and new facilities for locals to enjoy. 

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 £7m facelift will see resurfaced roads, better pavements, more crossings, more benches, bins and cycle parking. We've also launched the £1million Property Improvement Fund to help town centre businesses improve the front of their premises. 

Conference and business

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 for conferences to 7,000 delegates. The steel frame for the main event space is currently being installed, with next steps including connecting the new build to the existing Winter Gardens. The conference centre is expected to open for business in 2020.

Jobs and investment

The investment into the town centre will attract more business and businesses. Investment into the conference centre and new 4 and 5 star hotels will create local jobs and apprenticeships during the build and into the future. The construction company for the new Premier Inn at Talbot Square are currently on site and are expected to complete their works by early 2020. 

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, with the new tramway expected to be up and running within the next couple of years. 

Blackpool Museum

Blackpool’s museum 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: the stories of visitors, entertainers, celebrities, and residents. 

Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone

Blackpool’s Enterprise Zone spans across land located on Squires Gate and Blackpool Business Park employment areas (including parts of the Blackpool Airport site).

The vision for this area is to become home to more than 180 businesses, hosting 3000 new jobs and securing in excess of £300m private sector investment.

Since April 2016, it has attracted 55 new companies and generated more than 1000 new jobs for the area.

5G Technology Investment

Blackpool is one of the first locations in the country to benefit from a £multi-million investment that will deliver the fastest, most reliable internet connection on the global market and be one of the first UK towns and cities to benefit from 5G technology.

The council has secured £2.7m of government funding to upgrade and activate fibre optic cables that run the length of the coast’s tramline, through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s funding agreement (DCMS). 5G is fifth generation technology and the next step up for mobile phone and internet connections. 

Investment in schools

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.

For more information, visit https://blackpoolopportunityarea.co.uk/