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Plans for a new state of the art education campus in Blackpool town centre have been submitted. 

An outline planning application for a new Multiversity campus for Blackpool and the Fylde College has been submitted to Blackpool Council, showing a five storey campus on Cookson Street which could bring up to 3,000 new staff and students to the town centre. 

The £65m development would allow Blackpool and the Fylde College to relocate from out of town facilities into a world-class state-of-the-art campus as part of the £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration of the area around Blackpool North train station. 

The Multiversity would be built by Blackpool Council, then leased to the College, offering more than 70 individual courses and enhancing its existing higher education provision which is directly linked to local employment needs. 

The proposed development would include two phases, starting with an education campus on the corner of Cookson Street and George Street, followed by future development across the southern end of the site by Milbourne Street and Grosvenor Street.  

The plans would deliver up to 32,600 sqm of education space and commercial space across several phases, starting with the new Multiversity building. 

The main campus building would be designed to be carbon-neutral in operation, with the surrounding area on also George Street landscaped and pedestrianised to make it a safer environment for students. The Multiversity has been designed by established architects Hawkins\Brown and aims to complement the rest of the Talbot Gateway regeneration. 

Talbot Gateway is sited next to Blackpool North train station, with the Multiversity adding to other developments under construction nearby, including the 144 bedroom Holiday Inn and transport interchange and the Civil Service Hub, which will bring an additional 3,000 professional workers to the area when it opens in 2025. 

The site will offer plenty of sustainable transport options, including electric buses, train and tram, making the campus accessible to students across the Fylde Coast and beyond. 

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The Multiversity will be a game changing addition to Blackpool town centre and this is another exciting step forward.

“The Talbot Gateway is designed to support our plans to make Blackpool better, by bringing thousands of workers and students into the town centre, and creating an environment for local businesses to benefit from that huge increase in footfall, creating more jobs and opportunities for local people.

“The Multiversity will also help improve the town’s skills base so that our local people can learn work-ready skills and gain university level qualifications without leaving the town, while also offering a world class education campus that will help attract people to study, live and work in Blackpool.”

Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive, Blackpool and The Fylde College said: “Multiversity will genuinely transform the opportunities for people in Blackpool and on the Fylde coast, helping to deliver a highly skilled workforce.  It will combine the very best of higher and technical and professional education in one campus, with curriculum completely aligned with the growing opportunities across Lancashire and the North West. 

“Multiversity aims to be the country’s first carbon neutral Higher Education campus and we fully intend it to be a landmark building as part of the redevelopment of Blackpool town centre.  This is one of the best things to happen to Blackpool for a generation.”

The land for the new Multiversity is currently being acquired by Blackpool Council, with the support of a £9m Government grant as part Blackpool Town Deal, which was awarded in March 2022. 

The project was also awarded £40m as part of the Government’s Levelling Up funding in January 2023 as part of the total project cost of £65m.  

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

ENDS 

Note to Editors 

Hawkins\Brown is an architecture practice based in London, Dublin, Manchester, Edinburgh and Los Angeles. Founded more than 30 years ago and now run as an employee-owned trust, the firm brings a collaborative approach to projects across a range of types and scale in six main sectors: Civic, community & culture; education; healthcare; workplace; transport & infrastructure and residential. 

One of the UK’s leading architects in the education sector, Hawkins\Brown has worked on academic and research buildings for institutions that include University College London, the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester. Recently completed projects include a new Creative Arts Building for Leeds Beckett University, the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at the University of Warwick, and a new social science research park (sbarc | spark) at Cardiff University. 

New images show the first completed rooms inside the Blackpool Holiday Inn hotel. 

The four-star Holiday Inn is set to open in Spring 2024 and is currently being constructed as part of the town’s £350m Talbot Gateway development next to Blackpool North train station. 

The four storey, 144-room hotel will open alongside a Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant on the ground floor and will include business conferencing facilities and a fitness centre for guests.  

Bookings for the new hotel are now being taken from June, with earlier dates set to be made available closer to the opening. 

An extension to Blackpool tramway, which will connect the Talbot Gateway and train station directly with Blackpool Promenade, is also being constructed as part of the development, alongside an underpass allowing pedestrians to access the hotel and tramway directly from the station. Five additional retail units have been constructed underneath the hotel and are available for lease. 

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council, said: “We’re excited for the new Holiday Inn to open in time for the tourist season next year and it’s great to see the first few rooms complete. 

“The hotel will offer more options for tourists, but it will also create more opportunities for businesses and conferences and create dozens of jobs for local people. The restaurant will also offer another high-quality eating option for everybody in Blackpool to enjoy.

“The Talbot Gateway Central Business District regeneration is a key part of our plans to make Blackpool better, creating more jobs and opportunities for local people, but also increasing footfall and spend into local businesses and into the town centre.”

The Holiday Inn will be operated by RBH Hospitality Management, one of the UK’s leading independent hotel management company, with experienced General Manager Mark Winter overseeing the launch and early running of the hotel. 

The hotel will create 80 new jobs, from managerial positions through to front of house and housekeeping staff, with recruitment starting shortly. 

General Manager, Mark Winter, said: “This is a milestone development in an incredibly exciting project. Seeing the rooms take shape really helps bring the vision we have for this hotel to life and will be key to our rigorous recruitment campaign as we seek to build a diverse and experienced hotel team.

“With the completion of the first rooms, we’re one step closer to demonstrating the significant impact this hotel is going to have on the Blackpool area, so it’s great to see.”

The hotel, which is being developed by Muse in partnership with Blackpool Council, and tram extension form the second phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration of the area. Blackpool Council, alongside Muse, has already developed the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy. 

The third phase of the Talbot Gateway regeneration includes a new seven storey, 215,000 sq ft sustainable office building which will bring 3,500 civil service workers into the area when it opens in 2025, while land is currently being acquired ahead of phase four, a new £65m Multiversity educational campus which will also attract 3,000 more staff and students to the area. 

Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, said: “This latest milestone regarding the Holiday Inn’s construction signifies another important landmark in the regeneration of Talbot Gateway, and draws into focus the positive impact this project will deliver for the town.

“Our vision is to help create a bold and bright future for Blackpool, building upon its renowned and rich history, and we can’t wait to see this particular part of the development come to fruition next year.”

For more information on the Talbot Gateway, visit www.talbotgateway.com

Over 5,000 sq ft of retail space has been released as part of Blackpool Council’s £350m Talbot Gateway development. 

The units sit at the ground level of the 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel and surround the new tram terminal. The development includes a new underpass connecting passengers from Blackpool North train station with the new tramway extension which links to the town centre and Blackpool Promenade. 

The Station View retail units are set to be available from Easter 2024, with units ranging from 400 sq ft to 1,800 sq ft in size, with mains water and electric, alongside telecoms and data access. The units have planning permission for Class E retail use with the high volume of passing traffic offering options for food to go and convenience retailers. 

In addition to the five retail units underneath the Holiday Inn, two additional units are also available underneath the main Blackpool Council offices within the Talbot Gateway development.  

Over two million visitors passed through Blackpool North train station in 2022, with the number expected to increase as a result of future phases of the Talbot Gateway development. 

Construction on a £100m Civil Service Hub which will provide a regional home for the UK Government is under way, with an estimated 3,000 professional workers relocating to Blackpool town centre when it opens in early 2025. Land acquisition for the £65m Multiversity campus is also taking place which will provide a new home for Blackpool and the Fylde College, bringing over 2,000 students and staff to the area. 

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council, said: “The scale of regeneration in Blackpool right now is incredible and we’re proudly boasting about our £2 billion growth and prosperity programme.

“At the Talbot Gateway, progress is being made on three major phases to regenerate the area around the train station which will bring thousands of professional workers and students into the area every day, while the tramway extension and underpass make it much more accessible to reach Blackpool Promenade and all our major attractions by rail.”

For more information on the retail units, visit www.talbotgateway.com or email regeneration@blackpool.gov.uk 

-ENDS- 

Notes to Editor:  

For further information please contact Adam Ogden on 07442 883106 or email adam.ogden@blackpool.gov.uk  

Partners, nationwide placemaker, Muse, Blackpool Council and contractor Vinci Building, gathered together on site, to celebrate progress on the latest phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway transformation – a new £100m, 215,000 sq ft, highly-sustainable office building, which will become a new regional home for the Civil Service in Blackpool town centre. 

More than 3,000 public servants will relocate to the seven-storey building, when it completes, which is anticipated to be in the first quarter of 2025. 

The new offices will generate significant new footfall to the area, boosting trade to local businesses, retailers, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities, alongside a wealth of new job opportunities for local people, along with excellent sustainable transport connectivity through train, bus and tram. 

Alan McBride, projects director at Muse, said: “We’re delighted to see the core of the building coming out of the ground, which as important milestone in the creation of this fantastic facility for the Civil Service and one that we should celebrate.

“As a business, we’re committed to creating places with purpose that create opportunities for communities to thrive and prosper, and we’re looking forward to seeing this striking building progress over the coming months.

“We’re delighted to be playing such pivotal role with the council in delivering our shared vision for building a Blackpool that’s resilient and ready for the future.” 

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The new Civil Service hub is a major piece in our plan to develop the area around Blackpool North train station, bringing thousands of professional workers into the town centre who will spend money in local businesses, in turn creating new jobs and economic growth which makes Blackpool better for us all.

“It’s great to see the speed of this development and the build is progressing every single day with dozens of workers on site. We will now start to see the building really rise from the ground over the next few months, which will show real progress.

“Alongside the new development at the Holiday Inn, our future plans for the Multiversity, the improvements to our early evening economy with the first phase of Abingdon Street Market recently opening and The Backlot Cinema and Diner to follow this year, this will be a really exciting time for the town.”

Tony Grindrod, contracts manager at VINCI Building,“VINCI Building are delighted to see the superstructure starting to rise out of the ground on the Blackpool King Street project which is being undertaken in Partnership with Muse and Blackpool Council. The project has been on site for around four months now and soon the main steel frame will commence followed by the building façade later this year.

“VINCI Building have worked very hard with the client team to enhance the sustainability credentials of the project by utilising ultra-high strength concrete on the façade panels to minimise material use plus the utilisation of numerous other s

The new building has been designed by renowned architects, Make, to BREEAM “Excellent” standard, which means it will operate on low energy and promote both sustainable development and wellbeing.  

An inclusive approach to sustainability was taken from the outset to make sure the building will be as energy-efficient as possible, with high levels of insulation and air source heat pumps to provide low-carbon heating and cooling. Demand-drustainable techniques and innovations. VINCI with our supply chain partners have also set up a Community Skills Centre that will be used to train a number of young people from the local area and we are all very excited about this initiative taking shape over coming months.”

iven ventilation will improve indoor air quality, while at the same time allowing energy savings during times when the building is not occupied. 

During the building’s inception, partners completed early-stage whole life and upfront embodied carbon assessments, to eliminate inefficiencies where possible and reduce the building’s whole carbon footprint. This results in the new offices aiming to reduce its upfront embodied carbon intensity to 800 kgCO2e/m2. compared with 1100kgCO2e/m2 for a typical office development. 

The site, which will include a new town centre square with cycle and pedestrian routes, is within walking distance of the new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station. 

The interchange forms part of phase two of Talbot Gateway along with a new 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel, which will open in time for Easter next year, creating 50 new full-time jobs to the town. 

The long-standing partnership between Muse and Blackpool Council, has already delivered the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy. 

ENDS 

Media contact: 

Ryan Devlin, PR and communications manager 

T: 07970 454 046
E: Ryan.Devlin@museplaces.com 

Adam Ogden, Communications and Projects Manager, Blackpool Council 

T: 07442 883106 

E: adam.ogden@blackpool.gov.uk  / communications.team@blackpool.gov.uk 

Editor Notes 

Muse – the nationwide placemaker 

The nationwide placemaker, Muse, has almost 40 years of experience creating mixed-use communities across the UK.  

Our track record of leading complex, mixed-use regeneration gives us the experience to deliver successful places, with the emphasis on sustainability, community and quality. We’re working with partners in 36 places across the UK from Bradford to Brentford, from Salford to Lewisham, with close to 2,500 new homes and 800,000 sq ft of workspace currently on site and a gross development value of over £1.2bn.  

We combine local insight with the resources and capabilities of a nationwide organisation. Our regional businesses are based in Manchester, Leeds, London and Birmingham.  

As part of Morgan Sindall Group, we have the financial strength of a leading UK construction and regeneration group with an annual revenue of £3.6bn.  

Our focus is on strong partnerships in the many places we work across the UK and our national strategic joint ventures, The English Cities Fund – with Legal & General and Homes England – and Waterside Places with the Canal & River Trust.  

We’re building a brighter future, together.  

www.museplaces.com 

Work has started on a new £100m office building, which forms part of the place-changing £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration that is transforming the heart of Blackpool town centre. 

Nationwide placemaker, Muse, and its partner, Blackpool Council, have started work bringing forward a 215,000sq ft highly-sustainable office building for the Civil Service after naming VINCI Building as the contractor. 

More than 3,000 public servants will relocate to the striking, seven-storey regional hub, when it completes in March 2025. 

The new offices will generate significant new footfall to the area, boosting trade to local businesses, retailers, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities, alongside a wealth of new job opportunities for local people. 

Alan McBride, projects director at Muse, said: “We’re pleased to appoint VINCI Building and to start on site building this fantastic facility on behalf of Blackpool Council. 

“As a business, we’re committed to creating places with purpose for people that offer tangible environmental and social benefits to local communities, and are looking forward to seeing the building progress.

“We’re focused with partners as we re-energise the town centre, by delivering a place that blends the town’s rich history with its aspirations for the future. We’re delighted to be playing such an important role with the council in delivering our shared vision for building a better, more attractive and resilient Blackpool”

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this development start on site and is a great start to the New Year. Throughout the pandemic we were determined to push on with our regeneration of Blackpool and it is really exciting to see so much of our vision for the future coming to fruition.

“This physical generation for the future of our town is critical, but most importantly it means more jobs for local people and more money in local people’s pockets through a huge increase in footfall and spend in our town centre.

“This is the third phase of the Talbot Gateway development we have now delivered in partnership with Muse and we are pleased to welcome VINCI Building to that partnership and are looking forward to working with them and the social value benefits they can bring to our town through this contract.

“Jobs for local residents and spend in our local economy are key components of our town regeneration as that will build a sustainable future for generations to come. I am delighted that this new office development will start to take shape in the months ahead and in the most sustainable way possible, all helping to make Blackpool a better place to live and work.”

Gary Bowker, regional managing director at VINCI Building, said: “VINCI Building are so pleased to be involved in the exciting regeneration of Blackpool town centre. The development of such a significant Grade A office in the town centre will significantly increase daytime footfall once completed and will undoubtedly benefit local businesses over the long term. Low energy and low carbon design and material choice has been at the heart of decision making and this will result in a truly energy efficient, low carbon building that we can all be proud of. It has been a real team effort through the pre-construction phase, and we look forward to this continuing on to site.”

The new building has been designed by renowned architects, Make, to BREEAM “Excellent” standard, which means it will operate on low energy and promote both sustainable development and wellbeing.  

An inclusive approach to sustainability was taken from the outset to make sure the building will be as energy-efficient as possible, with high levels of insulation and air source heat pumps to provide low-carbon heating and cooling. Demand-driven ventilation will improve indoor air quality, while at the same time allowing energy savings during times when the building is not occupied. 

During the building’s inception, partners completed early-stage whole life and upfront embodied carbon assessments, to eliminate inefficiencies where possible and reduce the building’s whole carbon footprint. This results in the new offices aiming to reduce its upfront embodied carbon intensity to 800 kgCO2e/m2. compared with 1100kgCO2e/m2 for a typical office development. 

The site, which will include a new town centre square with cycle and pedestrian routes, is within walking distance of the new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station which is nearing completion. 

The interchange forms part of phase two of Talbot Gateway along with a new 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel, which will open later this year, creating 50 new full-time jobs to the town. 

The long-standing partnership between Muse and Blackpool Council, has already delivered the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy. 

While some of the parking has been taken away due to the construction of the new building, there will still be a limited number of spaces on East Topping Street car park. 

Nationwide placemaker, Muse, has a 40-year track record of leading complex, area-wide regeneration projects, and the experience to accelerate new neighbourhoods, with the emphasis on delivery, quality, and sustainability. We’re working with partners in 40 places across the UK from Bradford to Brentford, from Salford to Lewisham, with close to 2,500 new homes and 800,000 sq ft of workspace currently on site and a gross development value of over £1.2bn.  

ENDS 

Media contact: 

Ryan Devlin, PR and communications manager 

T: 07970 454 046
E: Ryan.Devlin@musedevelopments.com 

Kate Staley, Marketing and PR Manager, Blackpool Council 

T: 07796994587 

E:kate.staley@blackpool.gov.uk / communications.team@blackpool.gov.uk 

Editor Notes 

Muse – the placemaker 

The nationwide placemaker, Muse, has almost 40 years of experience creating mixed-use communities across the UK.  

We have a track record of leading complex, area-wide regeneration projects, and the experience to accelerate new neighbourhoods, with the emphasis on delivery, quality, and sustainability. We’re working with partners in 40 places across the UK from Bradford to Brentford, from Salford to Lewisham, with close to 2,500 new homes and 800,000 sq ft of workspace currently on site and a gross development value of over £1.2bn.  

As a network of regional businesses with a shared culture and goals, we combine local insight with the resources and capabilities of a large national player. Our regional teams are based in Salford, Leeds, London and Birmingham.  

As part of Morgan Sindall Group, we have the financial strength of a leading UK construction and regeneration group with an annual revenue of £3.2bn behind us.  

Our focus is on strong partnerships in the many places we work across the UK and our national strategic joint ventures, The English Cities Fund – with Legal & General and Homes England – and Waterside Places with the Canal & River Trust.  

We’re Muse and we’re building a brighter future, together.  

www.musedevelopments.com 

New images show the scale of the landmark development that has been awarded £40m of Levelling Up funding which will ensure delivery of a new Multiversity, a carbon-neutral, education campus in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway Central Business District.

This allows Blackpool and the Fylde College to replace out of town centre facilities with world-class state-of-the-art one in the heart of the town centre.

The Multiversity will promote higher-level skills, helping residents in Blackpool secure jobs for the future.

Key benefits of the project include:

• Improving skills and opportunities – The investment in a new, high-quality, purpose-built educational facility will provide an unrivalled learning environment, encouraging more learners to choose to continue with their education in Blackpool. A tailored curriculum, catering for needs of employers in order to fill skills gaps across the Fylde Coast, means the Multiversity, by virtue of what is taught there, will link directly to employment opportunities.
• Supporting town centre regeneration – The development of the Multiversity adjacent to the town centre will complement other major developments, including the developments at Talbot Gateway, the extension to the Houndshill Shopping Centre and the new Winter Gardens Conference and Exhibition Centre, in providing year-round footfall into the town centre, reducing the impacts of seasonality.
• Built environment uplift – The Multiversity’s development will provide uplift to an area that has not previously benefitted from significant investment, improving the built environment significantly, and supporting the creation of high-quality, pedestrianised, public open space.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Councillor Lynn Williams said:

“We are really pleased to be able to confirm that we will be receiving £40 million from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for our Multiversity scheme.

“Our regeneration plans for the town have been ongoing for more than 10 years now.

“The awarding of this money is testament to the continual and tireless work to make these plans a reality for the people of Blackpool. Our priority is to provide decent, secure jobs for local people, encourage economic growth and to enable locals – young and old – to make the most of the opportunities available.

“£40m will go towards providing a new world-class university experience for residents which would be carbon neutral in its operation. The new learning environment would facilitate upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning within the town. Our town revitalisation plans will also be supported by bringing many students into the heart of Blackpool. The learning opportunities will be linked directly to local job opportunities filling any skill gaps across the Fylde Coast.

“Multiversity will be delivered through a partnership involving Blackpool Council and Blackpool and the Fylde College in association with Lancaster University. It will accommodate approximately 2,300 learners with many able to gain higher-level qualifications.

“It is heartening to know that our vision for the regeneration of our town has been recognised by central Government and we will continue to work with them and our partners across the town to make this vision a reality.

“Things are really tough for some of our residents right now but there is hope for the future, I am fully committed to making Blackpool better for all who live, work and visit our incredible town”.

Bev Robinson CBE, OBE, Principal and Chief Executive, Blackpool and the Fylde College said:

“We are delighted by today’s Levelling Up announcement that includes Multiversity, Blackpool.

“Multiversity will further enhance Higher Education opportunities for our communities across the Fylde whilst contributing to the regeneration of the town centre.  Both businesses and residents will benefit from Multiversity; delivering a highly skilled workforce that supports local and regional businesses to flourish and residents to gain rich career opportunities. This investment demonstrates the power of collaboration with our valued partner, Blackpool Council. Multiversity is great news for Blackpool.”

Following the announcement this morning, Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council said:

“We are delighted to hear the announcement today. This project is a unique proposition, providing a cutting edge response to location, regional and national priorities. The proposed world class university experience is of significant importance to both Wyre and Blackpool residents and will benefit the whole Fylde coast. Creating a higher education campus in Blackpool town centre will be much more accessible, helping to remove barriers and open up more opportunities to university level education for our residents.”

ENDS

Blackpool welcomed the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State yesterday as they visited key regeneration projects and experienced first-hand what levelling up means for the town and its residents.

 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary of State Michael Gove called in at Talbot Gateway Phase 2, the latest phase of a multi-million pound development project, which will feature a 4* Holiday Inn and Marco Pierre White’s New York Italian restaurant, and a new underpass that will provide a bright, modern entrance into Blackpool North train station from a new tram terminus, linking to the existing tram network for greater connectivity around the Fylde coast. 

The transformation of Talbot Gateway is being delivered through a long term, strategic public and private partnership between Blackpool Council and Muse Developments, supported by main contractor Robertson and tramway contractor Sisk. 

Since 2018, more than £350m has been invested across the town, including £100m of government funding. Investment includes £80m at Phase 1 Talbot Gateway and a further £100m planned investment at Phase Three Talbot Gateway for a new regional hub for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), with work starting on the 215,000 sq ft offices this spring. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said,

“The defining mission of this government has been to level up this country so that no matter where you live, you have access to the same opportunities. “The transformation at Talbot Gateway will make a huge difference for the people of Blackpool, improving transport connectivity and bringing vital jobs to the area.” 

With an ambition to grow Blackpool’s economy by £1bn by 2030, Blackpool is keen to secure a long-term strategic partnership with central government to deliver improved housing, health, education, skills and employment, and digital outcomes, and to ensure effective and efficient levelling up for Blackpool and its residents. 

Mike Horner, Muse Developments said,

“Dedicated, long-term public and private-sector collaboration is what drives forward transformational change, and we have a perfect example in Blackpool, where we are driving growth, investment and opportunities to level up all areas of the local community. We were pleased that Ministers got to see first-hand the success of this approach, what levelling up can look like and the resilience it can bring now and in the future.” 

Leader of Blackpool Council Cllr Lynn Williams said, 

Key regeneration projects like Talbot Gateway reflect our ambition to build on the investment that is already underway to regenerate our town and improve life chances and opportunities for our residents. Much has been achieved, but there is so much more to do in the coming years. “We have demonstrated that we can deliver transformational change through our own and government investment and if we have the further required funding and support from central government we will be able to achieve so much more and we trust that ministers will recognise the potential to deliver its levelling up agenda here in Blackpool.” 

More than 3,000 civil servants are to be relocated to a new £100m office development in Blackpool town centre it was announced today.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come to an agreement with Blackpool Council and partner Muse Developments to develop a new regional hub in Talbot Gateway.

It will result in DWP staff from existing sites at Warbreck House and Ryscar House moving into the Blackpool Hub and Centre for Health and Disability Assessment (CHDA) at Talbot
Gateway when the new offices are completed in the autumn of 2024.

The DWP has signed a 25-year lease to occupy the highly-sustainable, purpose-built offices as part of a strategic plan to centralise civil service jobs in the heart of Blackpool.

The Council has been negotiating this deal for several years as part of its stated ambition to rejuvenate the town centre by the introduction of high-quality office developments that will create and protect local jobs, drive footfall and breathe new life into the retail economy.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey said: “Moving more than 3,000 DWP staff into this state of the art sustainable building in Talbot Gateway will drive footfall in the town centre and support Blackpool’s economic growth as the country builds back better from the pandemic.”

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay said: “We’re getting on with the job of levelling up across the whole country and it’s
fantastic to see this new hub in Blackpool consolidating jobs under one roof and making the public estate more efficient.

“I know Blackpool well, having grown up in Lancashire, and I’m optimistic the town will see significant economic benefits with a new flagship town centre office space driving footfall
and breathing new life into the economy;

Today, Cllr Lynn Williams, the Leader of Blackpool Council, described the agreement as “an historic moment” in the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

Cllr Williams said: “We have been working on plans with our partners Muse to introduce a new Fylde Coast Civil Service Hub for several years and we are thrilled that DWP share our vision and are committed to this long term investment. The relocation of just over 3,000 DWP employees will bring considerably more footfall into the area, with a massive boost to
local businesses, retailers, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities, but also bringing new, high quality job opportunities for local residents.

“The Civil Service has been looking to combine and streamline its UK administrative functions into more modern, efficient, sustainable and fit-for-purpose Hubs, in line with the principles of their own 2020 Vision. Talbot Gateway, Blackpool’s Central Business District, offers an ideal location, being highly accessible, well located and supported by excellent transport links. The sustainable location and the long list of environmental credentials and innovative design associated with this building, will also have a positive contribution to our climate emergency agenda and promote employee wellbeing.”

The c.215,000 sq ft (GIA) seven storey offices on a 2.4 acre site on King Street, is the third phase in the Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme. The offices will be located in a new leafy town centre square with new cycle and pedestrian routes, with storage for over 100 bicycles to encourage cycling to work. The offices will be within walking distance of a new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station.

The design of the building by London-based Make Architects, will draw on Blackpool’s rich Art Deco architectural heritage.

The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ building has been designed to be ultra-low energy and as energy efficient as possible, with high levels of insulation, low-carbon heating and cooling, and
demand driven ventilation, helping to reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint.

The building’s inclusive design will also benefit from ground floor showers and changing facilities that commuters can use before reaching the upstairs offices, automatic doors, a
large reception lobby, accessible tea points, meeting rooms, quiet zones and flexible activity spaces, and high, airy ceiling heights throughout.

The Hub will replace the existing civil service buildings at Warbreck and Ryscar, both of which are under-utilised and in need of significant investment.

Mike Horner, development director at Muse, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the DWP to Talbot Gateway with our latest sustainable building becoming its new home. This is a resounding endorsement of our collective commitment to bringing forward developments that offer tangible environmental and social outputs to benefit local communities. We’ve got some real forward momentum here at Talbot Gateway, as we work hard to build back better and further drive inward investment and opportunities right into the heart of the town.

“We’re focused with partners, as we repurpose and re-energise the town centre, by delivering developments that blend the town’s rich history with its aspirations for the future. We’re delighted to be playing an important role with the Council in delivering the vision for building a better, more attractive and resilient Blackpool for the future.”

Outline approval for the development was granted by Blackpool Council back in March 2021.

National urban regenerator, Muse Developments has submitted outline plans to Blackpool Council’s planning committee to bring forward the next phase at Talbot Gateway – a 170,000 sq ft office building – as development progress continues in the heart of the town centre. 

Muse together with Make Architects are currently designing a building which will be both striking and adaptable in terms of its design but is also environmentally sustainable and promotes wellbeing for occupiers. 

Development is currently underway on phase two of Talbot Gateway with construction – in line with government guidelines – of a new 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel which is due for completion in 2022 and will bring over 50 new full-time jobs to the town. The scheme also includes a new tram terminus on Talbot Road.

Talbot Gateway is the innovative £220m scheme currently being delivered by Muse in partnership with Blackpool Council, which will see the creation of a 1.1m sq ft central business district and civic quarter. In addition to the hotel, the team has also delivered the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square, a Sainsburys supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public space.

Mike Horner, development director at Muse, said: “We’re generating some real momentum at Talbot Gateway as we work hard to bring the next phase of the scheme forward, which will further drive inward investment, opportunities and community wealth right into the heart of the town at a time it’s needed most.

“We’re completely focused on working together with partners to repurpose and re-energise the town centre, by delivering developments that blend the town’s rich history with its aspirations for the future. We’re delighted to be playing an important role with the council in delivering the vision for building a better, more attractive and resilient Blackpool for the future.”

Blackpool Council and Muse Developments, development partners on Blackpool’s flagship Talbot Gateway regeneration project are delighted to announce that contracts are now signed with the hotel management company RBH, Holiday Inn and Black & White Hospitality (owner of Marco Pierre White’s restaurant chain) for the New Holiday Inn Blackpool Hotel.

The brand new four-star hotel, which is scheduled to open in Summer 2022, is part of a wider regeneration project for Blackpool including retail units and improved public transport links, with a new tram terminal, all within the Talbot Gateway central business district. Total investment in Phase Two Talbot Gateway is £34.6m. Holiday Inn Blackpool will boast 144 bedrooms as well as Marco’s New York Italian restaurant and create up to 50 new full time equivalent jobs. 

RBH is the UK’s leading independent hotel management company with an existing portfolio of 45 branded and independent hotels across the UK and already includes Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel. 

Andrew Robb, Chief Business Development Officer at RBH, said: “It has been great to work with the team at Blackpool Council over the past few years, seeing first-hand the passion and dedication they have for their town. As the flagship commercial development for Blackpool, Holiday Inn will form the centrepiece of the Talbot Gateway development’s second phase, transforming an important gateway to the town. We are delighted to be working with our partners at IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) on this project and can’t wait to get started.” 

Susan Bland, Managing Director at RBH, said: “We are thrilled to announce the continued growth of the RBH portfolio with the addition of Holiday Inn Blackpool. I am exceptionally proud that our track record in both development and operations proved instrumental in this appointment. Despite the challenges our industry is facing at the moment – which we are all navigating together – the fundamentals of hospitality remain unchanged in the long term, and we are looking to the future with excitement and positivity thanks to developments like this.”

Cllr Mark Smith Cabinet Member for Business Enterprise and Job Creation said, “Talbot Gateway continues to transform this key entrance into town and highlights the excellent commercial opportunities we have to offer. We’re delighted to welcome the Holiday Inn and Marco Pierre White brands to Blackpool and are confident that more internationally successful, recognised leisure businesses will follow in their wake. It raises the bar in terms of what people can come to expect from Blackpool’s leisure offer, providing a much needed boost to the year-round economy and creating sustainable long terms jobs for the local community.”

Marco’s New York Italian:

Inspired by his Italian heritage and love for New York, Marco’s New York Italian restaurant will reflect the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple as well as Marco’s passion for classic, simple, authentic food. Visitors to Blackpool will now be able to look forward to enjoying a mix of Italian-inspired dishes and American classics from a menu created personally by Marco himself while feeling they’ve been transported to the bistros and diners of New York.

Nick Taplin, Chairman and CEO of Black and White Hospitality added: “This New York Italian is perfect for Blackpool. It represents friendly, casual dining and will give locals and visitors a great new place to go out and eat. It’s not pretentious, it’s just good food, served in a great environment.”

“This is also fantastic news for Blackpool town as well as Black and White. The New York Italian fits perfectly with the Holiday Inn and we already have a number of hugely successful restaurants trading under this popular hotel brand. In these uncertain times it is good to look forward and plan such positive developments. Black and White Hospitality has a very strong portfolio and our business model of aligning the restaurant brands with hotels is one that has proved very successful in the UK as we approach our 50^th venue.”