July 2026

Blackpool’s new business hub, The Robinson, has won the prestigious Regeneration and Conservation Award at the North West Regional Construction Awards 2026.

The award recognises the £8.2m transformation of Stanley Buildings, one of the town’s locally listed buildings which was first opened in 1935.

This transformation includes The Robinson, a new modern business hub, designed to help local companies grow.

Led by the council, the development was supported by local construction company, F Parkinson Ltd, Cassidy + Ashton architects and Bev Wood Design (BWD) for interiors, with Happy Creative leading on branding and marketing.

Judges at the awards praised the scheme, commenting:

“This project had a strong sustainability approach and outstanding social value impact. The project team demonstrated exceptional leadership with mental health support, inclusive EDI practices, high local supply chain engagement metrics. The digital strategy was excellent with clear evidence of measurable benefits.”

The regeneration of the building includes refurbishing disused space in the upper floors of the building to offer 44 private offices, as well as six fully equipped meeting rooms and a vibrant co-working environment all with superfast broadband.

Work to the rest of the Art Deco building has included repairing and replacing faience blocks, refurbishing the roof and installing new windows. Investment has been made in solar panels and air source heat pumps to lower the building’s carbon impact.

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said:

“We’re incredibly proud that The Robinson has been recognised at the North West Regional Construction Awards. This project has transformed one of Blackpool’s most distinctive historic buildings into a modern, sustainable business hub that will support local companies to grow and create jobs.

“The award is a testament to the vision, collaboration and hard work of everyone involved in bringing Stanley Buildings back to life while preserving its important Art Deco heritage. The Robinson is already helping to attract and support ambitious businesses, while ensuring this landmark building continues to play a vital role in the future of our town.

“Winning a regional award of this calibre is fantastic recognition for our ongoing regeneration programme and our commitment to make Blackpool an even better place to live, work and thrive.”

Steve Williamson, Managing Director at F Parkinson, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Regeneration & Conservation Award at the North West Regional Construction Awards. The Robinson represents everything that is important to us as a business; preserving heritage, delivering sustainable outcomes, creating social value and working collaboratively with our client and supply chain partners.

“This award is testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire project team, together, we have not only restored an iconic building but created a lasting asset that will support business growth and regeneration in Blackpool for generations to come.”

A key factor in the success of The Robinson was its outstanding social value performance. More than 50% of the project supply chain was sourced locally with 234 apprenticeship weeks being delivered – almost three times the original target. Partnerships with local organisations, including The New Langdale Centre, created opportunities for skills development, inclusion and community engagement.

The Robinson is named in honour of John Charles Robinson, a former chief architect for Blackpool. Between 1920-1944, he designed many of Blackpool’s landmark civic buildings including Stanley Buildings, the Art Deco café at Stanley Park, the Solaris Centre, and the South Shore Open Air Baths, as well as the middle and lower walk Colonnades.

The triangular shaped Stanley Buildings, with its distinctive cream art deco façade, was opened in 1935 and originally comprised 26 shops at ground floor level with corporation offices above called Stanley Chambers.

Original architectural features have been carefully preserved and complemented by modern amenities, including ultra-fast broadband, thoughtfully designed communal spaces, shower facilities and secure bike storage.

The project has been funded by Blackpool Council and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity and Town Deal Funds.

Hosted by journalist Lucy Meacock, the North West Regional Construction Awards were held on 2 July at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool and attended by more than 420 industry professionals.

The NWRCA is held in partnership with Constructing Excellence in the North West, the School of Science, Engineering and Environment at the University of Salford, and the Centre for Construction Innovation.

For more information about The Robinson including available space and membership, or to book a private viewing, visit www.blackpoolunlimited.com

Construction has now started on the new Multiversity campus, with representatives from all key stakeholders joining together on site to mark another major milestone in the transformation of the town centre.

Work is now underway on the new campus for Blackpool and The Fylde College, following approval of an updated planning application earlier this year, which will bring 3,000 students, apprentices and staff into the heart of Blackpool when it opens its doors in September 2028.

The 115,000 sq. ft. educational space will create a modern, inspiring and aspirational new learning environment in the town centre, helping position Blackpool as a centre for education, skills and opportunity.

As part of the development, George Street has now closed to traffic ready to be transformed into a public realm space once construction is complete, supporting our wider commitment to regenerate the Talbot Gateway area and create a more attractive, accessible town centre.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said:

“It’s incredibly exciting to see construction begin on the new Multiversity campus.

“This marks another major milestone for the town, with the Multiversity playing a central role in our plans to make Blackpool an even better place to live, work and learn.

“Creating a new college campus in the heart of the town centre will provide real opportunities for local people to develop new skills, improve their employment prospects and raise aspirations.

“Together with the DWP office that opened last year, the relocation of NHS Business Services Authority staff to Bickerstaffe Square, and the new government office under construction on Talbot Road, these developments will bring more than 8,000 people into the town centre, increasing footfall, supporting local businesses, making Blackpool better and creating new opportunities for Blackpool residents.”

Alun Francis, Chief Executive of Blackpool & The Fylde College, said:

“This is a defining moment for the Multiversity – and for the future of education in Blackpool.”

“This represents a bold statement of ambition for the town, creating a flagship development that strengthens our connection to the wider region as the economy evolves and demand for higher-level skills continues to grow.

“The Multiversity will introduce a new model for higher education, opening up more accessible routes into higher skills for people of all ages and backgrounds. As part of this, we are delighted to be among the first institutions able to offer short courses eligible for student loan funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, giving greater flexibility to upskill, retrain or learn across their lives.

“This will attract new people to Blackpool, while also enabling local talent to pursue their ambitions here and progress into higher-skilled, better-paid careers. We are particularly keen to reach those who might think graduate level study is not an option for them.

“Outstanding partnership working has brought us to this milestone – and we are now getting very excited about welcoming our first learners through the doors in September 2028.”

The Multiversity will provide five floors of learning space, delivering more than 70 courses and enhancing the college’s existing higher education offer. The flexible courses will provide skills directly linked to local employment needs, helping to develop a skilled workforce and supporting local people into local careers. The campus will also offer a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.

Construction is being delivered by North West contractor Morgan Sindall Construction, who previously completed the demolition and site clearance works.

Steven Gregory, Area Director, Morgan Sindall Construction, said:

“Reaching this stage is a hugely proud moment for everyone involved in the Multiversity project. Over the past few years, an enormous amount of work has gone on behind the scenes by Blackpool Council, Blackpool & The Fylde College, our project partners and the wider delivery team to carefully shape and prepare this scheme for construction.

“Seeing work now begin on site is a significant milestone and a real testament to the collaboration, commitment and shared ambition of all those involved. This development will be transformational for Blackpool, creating an inspiring new education hub in the heart of the town centre while helping to drive opportunity, regeneration and long term economic growth for the community.

“As a North West business, we’re incredibly proud to be delivering a project that will leave such a lasting legacy for future generations.”

In addition to the Multiversity campus, a second phase on the site will provide opportunities for the college’s future expansion as plans are in development to form a wider skills and education campus, which has been identified as a key transformational priority within the recently published Lancashire Growth Plan. In the short term, this area will be used as a temporary car park.

The land for the new Multiversity has been acquired with the support of a £9m Government grant as part of Blackpool’s Town Deal programme, while the construction was also awarded £40m from UK Government in 2023. Both funds have now been combined into a single funding pot known as the Local Regeneration Fund.

The Multiversity forms phase four of Blackpool Council’s £350m regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area around Blackpool North train station, which in total is bringing over 8,000 professional workers and students into the area. The area has already seen major development over recent years including a 4 star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, improved transport interchange and a new town centre office for the Department of Works and Pensions, with a new government office building for 1,100 staff due to open next year.

A number of highways improvements will also be installed over the next 12 months to aid traffic flow and provide safer routes for pedestrians around the Multiversity site and Talbot Gateway, including improved traffic signal junctions, updated road layouts and new pedestrian crossings. These works will be part funded by the UK Government through the £17m Town Centre Access Scheme.

For more details on regeneration plans in Blackpool, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/BetterBlackpool