Blackpool City Council has given the go-ahead for plans to deliver the £300m Blackpool Central leisure destination
The £300m Blackpool Central scheme will be the largest single investment in Blackpool for over a century.
It is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs, bring an estimated 600,000 additional visitors each year, and boost annual spending in the town by around £75m.
Blackpool Council’s planning committee approved Nikal Ltd’s and Media Invest Entertainment’s detailed planning application for the initial phases of the scheme, which include a new 1,306 space multi-storey car park and heritage quarter.
Outline plans to deliver a major public events square for live events, three indoor entertainment centres, a hotel, restaurants and additional leisure and hospitality space at Blackpool Central were also given the green light.
‘Looking forward to getting spades in the ground’
Richard Fee, chief executive officer, Nikal, said: “This is a key moment for levelling up Blackpool’s visitor economy post-Covid.
“Blackpool Central will help transform and future-proof the town’s tourism offer, and last night’s approval is an important step forward in our journey.
“Our lead investor, Alan Murphy, has been behind the project from the beginning and is delighted to see the scheme coming to fruition.
“We have worked hard to ensure that the scheme will complement Blackpool’s current attractions and wider leisure offer.
“This approach will help us to secure game-changing benefits for Blackpool – drawing in 600,000 additional visitors a year and boosting annual spend in the local economy by £75m.
“We are now looking forward to getting spades in the ground to build the multi storey car park and heritage quarter, which are the catalysts for delivering our wider vision.”
‘A major milestone for this transformational regeneration project’
Councillor Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council leader and cabinet member for tourism and culture, commented: “Yesterday’s decision is a major milestone for this transformational regeneration project which has been widely anticipated by our residents, who can now look forward to seeing activity on-site as construction starts in earnest.
“The development means so much more to our residents than just a new leisure and entertainment destination, as it brings lots of new, varied and skilled year-round job opportunities, extra footfall and revenue to local businesses, and breathes new life into a run down and neglected part of the town, which will vastly improve the area and will have a positive effect on the surrounding residential streets and local population.”
The scheme is a key part of the Blackpool Town Deal – a bold vision to drive the regeneration of the town and its post-Covid economic recovery.
Construction of the multi storey car park and heritage quarter is expected to start in 2022 and will take around two years to complete.
Nikal Ltd and Media Entertainment Invest Entertainment will also prepare a detailed planning application for the wider scheme.
