Plans in for £300m Blackpool Central leisure scheme
Nikal and Media Invest Entertainment have lodged plans for the first phase of the £300m leisure complex at Blackpool Central.
Plans will see a 1,306-space multi-storey car park freeing up land for the future phases of development and catering to visitors to the iconic tourist attraction.
Phase one will also see the restoration of the Grade II-listed former King Edward Picture House to create a new artisan food hall at the new Heritage Quarter. The locally listed King Edward VII pub will be refurbished to provide a new pub and hotel. And the King Edward VII apartment building will be turned into an aparthotel.
Nikal and Media Invest Entertainment have lodged plans for the first phase of the £300m leisure complex at Blackpool Central.
Plans will see a 1,306-space multi-storey car park freeing up land for the future phases of development and catering to visitors to the iconic tourist attraction.
Phase one will also see the restoration of the Grade II-listed former King Edward Picture House to create a new artisan food hall at the new Heritage Quarter. The locally listed King Edward VII pub will be refurbished to provide a new pub and hotel. And the King Edward VII apartment building will be turned into an aparthotel.
The partners have also submitted outline plans for future phases with a public square for live events, three indoor entertainment centres, a hotel, restaurants and further leisure and hospitality.
The site previously held the Central Railway Station which closed in 1964. It is currently occupied by a large car park, former police station and the law courts to the south-western corner. Blackpool Tower is located to the north of the site.
The regeneration is the largest central investment into Blackpool for over a century and is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs and bring an estimated 600,000 additional visitors to the area every year, boosting annual spend by £75m.
It is part of the Blackpool Town Deal, supported by £39.5m of government funding. A decision on the planning application is expected from Blackpool Council later this year.
Norbert Reichart, chief executive at Media Invest Entertainment, said: “The scheme has a crucial role to play in enhancing Blackpool’s tourism offer and attracting more visitors to the town, and we have been spurred on by the strong show of support for our plans.”
The partners held a public consultation earlier this year, with over 700 people, of which 90% expressed support for the development.
Richard Fee, chairman at Nikal, said: “This is a watershed moment for Blackpool Central. The overwhelmingly positive response to our consultation shows the level of excitement and enthusiasm around the scheme.”
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Photos: Nikal/Media Invest Entertainment
