The town deal, described by Blackpool Council Leader Cllr Lynn Williams as 'game-changing', with the seven business cases having been approved by the Blackpool Council's Executive Committee.
Full sign off, of all seven schemes was provided by the government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in March 2022. Blackpool will have until the end of the 2025/26 financial year to spend the money.
Town Deal Projects
Blackpool central courts relocation (£6.95 Million)
Supporting the relocation of Blackpool’s county and magistrates courts to open up space for the £300m private sector investment at Blackpool Central. This will provide a brand new, world-class, visitor attraction, open year-round providing a major boost to the visitor economy including major job creation.
An additional £1million of “accelerated funding” was previously granted in September 2020 which allowed the purchase of the land where the new court building is anticipated to be relocated.
Blackpool Multiversity (£9 Million)
Relocation of the Blackpool and the Fylde College’s Palatine Road campus to create a world class university learning environment in the town centre. It will help to address local skills needs, working with local employers and in partnership with Lancaster University.
The new multiversity campus has been designed to accommodate up to 3,000 staff and students.
Above: Architect's Image of the Multiversity
Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (£7.5 Million)
Build a series of new roads to open up development sites to attract jobs and investment at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (EZ).
Through the creation of new highways, the scheme will support business and jobs growth, opening up 10.5 hectares of previously inaccessible development land. This will support the aim of the Enterprise Zone to create 5,000 new jobs for the area by 2041.
Above: Aerial view of the Blackpool Enterprise Zone.
Revoe Community Sports Village (£6.5 Million)
This project will aid the regeneration of the Revoe area, creating new sports pitches and facilities for community wide use.
It will create investment within the Blackpool FC Bloomfield Road ground and surrounding area.
The overall project aim is to provide a sports village with leisure, education, and residential uses and attract further private investment to the area.
Above: Aerial view of the Community Sport Village Area.
Stanley Buildings/The Edge (£4.5 Million)
Redevelopment of the existing town centre Stanley Buildings to create modern office space for new start-ups and growing businesses, and providing business advice for growth-ambitious small businesses.
The Edge is the name given to the new extended managed workspace that will bring into use large parts of the upper floors of the building to create a vibrant business hub with a choice of offices,meeting rooms, co-working and breakout spaces.
Above: Stanley Buildings
Blackpool Illuminations modernisation (£4.5 Million)
Upgrading the world famous Blackpool Illuminations to attract new visitors by developing new features and lighting technology.
A number of new centrepiece attractions will be designed alongside new lighting infrastructure improvements and essential technical equipment needed to deliver the illuminations in a greener, more sustainable way.
Above: The new Odyssey illumination feature
Blackpool Youth Hub The Platform (£0.5 Million)
The development of a physical space to support young people in the town to access jobs and training and to make the jump from school or unemployment into work, smoother and easier. The Youth Hub will provide a ‘one place base’ providing quality advice for young jobseekers aged 16-24.
The Platform is located in a town centre unit within Bickerstaffe House, a council owned building.
Above: The Platform team outside of The Platform Hub.
Capacity funding
Blackpool Council received £243,029 in capacity funding to support the development of the project business cases and to support programme development and management costs.
Find out more about the town deal
or email regeneration@blackpool.gov.uk
