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

The Multiversity campus will provide a new home for Blackpool and The Fylde College, bringing up to 3,000 students and staff into Blackpool town centre.

The 115,000 sq ft building will include five floors of education space to deliver more than 70 individual courses and enhance the college’s existing higher education provision which is directly linked to local employment needs. It would also support a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.

The campus building will include a high-glossed terracotta tiled facade, along with floor to ceiling glass, while the surrounding area will also be greened up through landscaping and planting to create a public square.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “As well as bringing thousands of students into the town centre, helping our local people to complete qualifications and find quality work, it will also provide a green public square to the area, incorporating trees, flowers and grassy areas, which will complement the similar planting which will happen around the DWP office. It will be a great green area within the town centre.”

The building itself is expected to be carbon neutral in operation, with solar panels on the roof of the building, and heated by sustainable air source heat pumps. A green roof terrace at the south of the building will also allow students to both study and relax in a landscaped environment.

The building will also include a small dedicated parking area for staff, as well as secure cycle storage.

Avison Young have led as the planning consultants for the Multiversity, along with architects Hawkins\Brown and advisers CBRE. Blackpool Council has also appointed Morgan Sindall Construction as the main contractors on a pre-contact services agreement.

Outline planning approval for up to 32,600sqm of education and commercial space was granted for the whole Multiversity site earlier this year. In addition to the first phase Multiversity campus, a second phase immediately south will allow expansion space for the College’s future plans, or office space for the Talbot Gateway. In the short term, the space would be used as a temporary car park until funding is secured for the second phase.

Land assembly for the site of the Multiversity is still under way, with over 60% of the properties purchased so far and negotiations with the remaining property owners continuing. While a Compulsory Purchase Order was served in April and will be heard at a public inquiry starting on 12 November, the Council continues to negotiate with property owners, and is offering a range of support to residents who have to move because of the development.

Cllr Williams added: “I understand that we are buying people’s homes and that for many this has been a difficult process. As throughout this process, support is still available to help find alternative accommodation and to move home. If anyone does still need support please do contact us.”

Alun Francis OBE, Chief Executive at Blackpool and the Fylde College, added: “We are really pleased with the progress being made to bring this amazing new facility into the heart of Blackpool.  We look forward to sharing more details as the project progresses.”

The Multiversity makes up 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.

A new 4 star 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant opened in May, while a tram-train interchange linking to Blackpool Promenade opened in June.

A civil service hub will bring over 3,000 government workers into a new 215,000 sqft office on King Street early next year, while full planning permission has been granted for a new million, 52,950 sq ft office off Talbot Road which would be home to over 1,000 employees. Plans for a new multi-storey car park off Church Street are also set to be submitted.

The land for the new Multiversity is currently being acquired by Blackpool Council, with the support of a £9m Government grant while the construction was also awarded £40m from UK Government in 2023.

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

A major Blackpool regeneration programme has supported a dozen young people to find their first jobs

The new Blackpool town centre office for Department of Work and Pensions will be home to over 3,000 civil servants when it opens early next year, but its construction is already having a positive impact on the local economy.

Blackpool Council, developer Muse and main contractor VINCI Building have worked together to ensure that local people and businesses benefit from the town’s biggest construction project since The Blackpool Tower.

A construction skills centre created on site has helped 16 young people from Blackpool who had left school without jobs to complete qualifications and find work experience learning skills such as bricklaying, plastering and fire protection.

By the end of the programme, 12 of the young people impressed so much on site that they found permanent work with sub-contractors, helping them to start their careers in the construction industry.

Penial Jonah, 16, who lives in the town centre, had no recognised qualifications when arriving on site. Through the construction skills centre programme, he has completed qualifications in English and Maths, as well as training with JCS Interiors and has now registered on a full time T Level studying Design, Planning and Management.

He said: “I have learnt so many things on the course, including health and safety and why it is important, as well as bricklaying and groundwork skills. I loved creating designs with block paving. In future I would like to be an architect or a project manager.”

The young people on the scheme approached The Platform, Blackpool Council’s job and skills hub for young people, and the onsite training provided by Skills Construction Centre.

For Charlie Congleton, 17, from South Shore, he completed school with little qualifications but had a passion for working in construction. Having completed his qualifications at the skills centre, he completed work experience in plastering with JCS Interiors where he’s now been employed as a labourer and trainee plasterer.

He added: “I’ve loved this course and the time I’ve spent with JCS Interiors and the team. I’m always open to learning new skills and anything that will benefit me. Plastering will always be my main ambition.”

As well as supporting young people to find work on the building construction, the project has created 223 jobs, with one third of those hired locally, from mechanical supervisors and tele handlers, through to security, labouring and cleaning. Over 60 people were taken out of unemployment by the scheme.

Over £25m has been spent with local SMEs as sub-contractors, ranging from engineering consultancy, demolition works, structural steelwork, concrete drilling and HVAC solutions all sourced from within 30 miles of the construction site.

Finally, almost 500 weeks of apprenticeships for local students have been created, with 20 local school visits carried out to discuss careers in construction.

Cllr Jo Farrell, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “The scale of regeneration taking place in Blackpool right now is huge, and is designed to grow our local economy and create jobs for local people.

“We’re keen to make sure that our regeneration is about people, just as much as it is about places. To do that, we have a clause in our contracts that ensures all contractors who work with us commit to finding local workers and using local businesses where possible.

“For such a large project, we wanted to make sure that local people felt the benefits as soon as the first spade hit the ground. For the young people who completed qualifications and found work as a result of the scheme, that is a fantastic outcome which will hopefully springboard them to a successful career in construction, starting their adult life with secure, quality employment, and an opportunity to continue learning.”

The seven-storey building is being delivered by Blackpool Council, alongside nationwide placemaker, Muse, and main contractor VINCI Building.

The new office building is the third phase in Blackpool’s £350m redevelopment of the Talbot Gateway around Blackpool North train station, which in total will bring over 8,000 professional workers and students into the town centre.

The regeneration of Talbot Gateway 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.

A new 4 star 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant opened in May, while a tram-train interchange linking to Blackpool Promenade opened in June.

Plans have also been approved for a Multiversity campus for Blackpool and the Fylde College, bringing up to 3,000 students and staff into the area.

Elsewhere, full planning permission has been secured by Muse and Blackpool Council for a new 52,950 sq ft office off Talbot Road which would be home to over 1,000 employees, while plans for a new multi-storey car park are expected to be submitted shortly. All of these developments will help to bring new people into the town centre, increasing footfall, and boosting trade for local businesses.

For more information about plans to make Blackpool better, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/betterblackpool and to enquire about moving your business into the Talbot Gateway visit www.talbotgateway.com.

Two Talbot Gateway developments have been shortlisted for the 2024 Lancashire Property Awards.

These awards, hosted by NW Business Insider, recognise those projects shaping Lancashire and building its new communities and shines a light on those with a vision to further elevate the region, driving growth and prosperity.

Taking place on 14 November 2024, at Blackpool’s very own Winter Gardens, this prestigious event will be a night of celebration and showcase the brilliant work of those working hard across the region’s property community.

Take a look at the awards we’ve been shortlisted for below:

Commercial Development of the Year 

Holiday Inn, Blackpool (Blackpool Council, Muse)

The Holiday Inn Blackpool, managed by RBH Hospitality Management, is council owned and is part of the wider regeneration project, Talbot Gateway, developed by Muse Places in partnership with Blackpool Council.

The four-storey, 144-room development, complete with a Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant on the ground floor, business conferencing facilities and a fitness centre, is conveniently placed off the side of the train station, offering a central hub for both business and leisure guests arriving in Blackpool.

Within its first 100 days of opening, the hotel has welcomed over 14,000 guests from around the world, sold over 8,000 rooms, 5,000 meals at Marco’s New York Italian Restaurant and provided 12,000 breakfasts to its guests.

The hotel sits above an improved underpass connecting passengers from Blackpool North train station with a new tram stop and extension connecting to the Blackpool tramway along the Promenade.

Social Impact Award

Civil Service Hub – Talbot Gateway (Blackpool Council, Muse, VINCI Building, Skills Construction Centre)

The seven-storey building is being delivered by Blackpool Council, alongside nationwide placemaker, Muse, and main contractor VINCI Construction.

The £100m, 215,000 sq ft Civil Service Hub at King St near Blackpool North train station, recently reached its highest point, making it the tallest office building in Blackpool.

The new office building is the third phase in Blackpool’s £350m redevelopment of the Talbot Gateway around the train station, which in total will bring over 8,000 professional workers and students into the town centre.

The building has been designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards which means it incorporates best practice in sustainable building design, construction, and operation.

With carbon assessments conducted at the project’s outset to aid the reduction of the building’s total carbon footprint, features supporting the Civil Service Hub’s sustainability credentials include:

• Terracotta façade panels, an acknowledgement of the town’s architectural heritage, that are highly sustainable and help reduce the building’s embodied carbon
• Consumption-led mechanical and electrical services that will create energy savings whilst improving the building’s indoor environment for occupiers
• Air source heat pumps to provide low-carbon heating and cooling

Furthermore, with ground floor facilities that encourage active travel, including cycle storage, showers and changing facilities, the Civil Service Hub will encourage sustainable transport for visitors and residents.

Other Blackpool projects shortlisted include the letting to Frasers Group at Blackpool Houndshill Shopping Centre and Silicon Sands at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

The Holiday Inn Blackpool officially opened its doors to its first guests 100 days ago and has since welcomed over 14,000 guests from around the world. The popular hotel has also sold over 8,000 rooms, 5,000 meals at Marco’s New York Italian Restaurant and provided 12,000 breakfasts to its guests.

Blackpool Council has selected a preferred contractor to build a new £65m state of the art education campus in the town centre.

Morgan Sindall Construction has been chosen as the main contractor on a pre-contract services agreement for the Multiversity, which will bring up to 3,000 students and staff into Blackpool town centre.

The Multiversity would allow Blackpool and the Fylde College to relocate from out-of-town facilities into a world class campus off Cookson Street in Blackpool. Land for the development is currently being assembled with the site offering a perfect location situated next to tram, train and bus services, making it accessible to students across the Fylde Coast and beyond.

The Multiversity would be 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 Multiversity would also support a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.

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.

Outline approval for the scheme was granted in April 2024, with a reserved matters application to follow this summer.

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 and local people. The Multiversity has been designed by established architects Hawkins\Brown and aims to complement the rest of the Talbot Gateway regeneration.

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up at Blackpool Council, said: “This is another important step forward in what is a really exciting development for Blackpool’s future.

“The Multiversity campus will transform the area around the train station, adding thousands of students to the area which will bring a vibrancy but also an economic boost to surrounding businesses.

“For a development of this size, we needed a large construction company with a track record in delivering quality education campuses. As we have done with other major developments, we will also be ensuring a real commitment to social value, such as hiring local companies where possible, supporting local labour, and encouraging training and apprenticeship opportunities for Blackpool locals.”

“This development is an exciting chapter in Blackpool’s future, but I appreciate that to make it happen, we are buying some people’s homes in Cookson Street, and that can be a difficult process. While over half the buildings have already been sold, I want to reassure everybody still living there that support is available if you are struggling to find somewhere new to live. If you still need support, please contact us and we will try to help you.”

Blackpool Council has been negotiating to buy properties in the Multiversity area for over two years and has already bought over 60 per cent of the buildings needed for the Multiversity. While a Compulsory Purchase Order was served in April and will be heard at a public inquiry later this year, the Council continues to negotiate with property owners, and is offering a range of support to residents who have to move because of the development.

Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s North West Area Director, said: “We’re excited to be appointed to the Multiversity Campus project with Blackpool Council and the Blackpool and The Fylde College, which promises to deliver highly valuable benefits for the local community. Once complete, the campus will boost access to advanced skills for Blackpool’s resident and support the town centre’s wider regeneration.

“The Morgan Sindall team is committed to maximising the social and economic value generated during the development. This will be achieved in a number of ways, such as utilising local contractors and creating a Knowledge Quad to provide training and learning opportunities, such as hosting the Blackpool Community Skills Academy employability programme. We’ve also already partnered with Blackpool and The Fylde College to provide ongoing education support to help students become ‘work ready’.”

Alun Francis OBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Blackpool and the Fylde College, added: “The appointment of Morgan Sindall, who have an outstanding reputation within the education construction sector, is a critical milestone in the delivery of the Multiversity for the students and residents of Blackpool and the Fylde coast.

“The Multiversity will genuinely transform the opportunities for local people providing access to higher level skills, supporting local businesses in securing talent, and contributing to a vibrant town centre.”

The Multiversity makes up 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.

A new 4 star 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant opened in May, while a tram-train interchange linking to Blackpool Promenade opened in June.

A civil service hub will bring over 3,000 government workers into a new 215,000 sqft office on King Street early next year, while full planning permission is also being sought for a new £45 million, 52,950 sq ft office off Talbot Road which would be home to over 1,000 employees. Plans for a new multi-storey car park off Church Street are expected to be submitted later this summer.

The Council will work with Morgan Sindall ahead of the construction to confirm elements of the design and construction process. Should the pre-construction works be agreeable to all, Morgan Sindall will be chosen to build the new campus. The agreement follows a two-step tendering process, where two submissions were provided from the Pagabo Framework.

The land for the new Multiversity is currently being acquired by Blackpool Council, with the support of a £9m Government grant while the construction was also awarded £40m from UK Government in 2023.

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

A new home for the UK Government in Blackpool town centre is on track to welcome over 3,000 civil servants early next year.

The £100m, 215,000 sq ft Civil Service Hub at King St near Blackpool North train station, has reached its highest point, making it the tallest office building in Blackpool.

The seven-storey building is being delivered by Blackpool Council, alongside nationwide placemaker, Muse, and main contractor VINCI Construction.

The new office building is the third phase in Blackpool’s £350m redevelopment of the Talbot Gateway around the train station, which in total will bring over 8,000 professional workers and students into the town centre.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Redeveloping the area around Blackpool North train station is a major part of our plans to make Blackpool better, creating jobs and opportunities for local people.

“If you look around town, you can already start to see new private businesses using the opportunity of extra workers on their doorstep and investing in new or improved premises and creating jobs for local people, which is fantastic.

“Anybody who has visited the town centre in the last eighteen months has seen the Civil Service Hub becoming a new landmark on the Blackpool skyline, but we are also making sure that it impacts local people positively. Working with Muse and Vinci, we have made sure that local Blackpool and Lancashire businesses have won contracts where possible, while we are committed to helping young people in Blackpool to find work and training on site.”

The regeneration of Talbot Gateway 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.

A new 4 star 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant opened in May, while a tram-train interchange linking to Blackpool Promenade opened in June. Outline plans have also been approved for a multiversity campus for Blackpool and the Fylde College, bringing up to 3,000 students and staff into the area.

Elsewhere, full planning permission is being sought by Muse and Blackpool Council for a new £45 million, 52,950 sq ft office off Talbot Road which would be home to over 1,000 employees, while plans for a new multi-storey car park are expected to be submitted later this summer.

Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, says: “The long-standing partnership between Muse and Blackpool Council continues to help build a brighter Blackpool through regeneration that’s fit for the future, and with the Civil Service Hub topping out, it’s rewarding to see another milestone ticked off as part of our programme to transform the town.

“This highly sustainable building will help to provide a significant boost to the town centre’s economy, and by incorporating design features that are a nod to Blackpool’s rich cultural heritage, we’re helping to forge a new chapter for the town while remembering the culture and history that have contributed to Blackpool’s iconic status.”

The building has been designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards which means it incorporates best practice in sustainable building design, construction, and operation.

With carbon assessments conducted at the project’s outset to aid the reduction of the building’s total carbon footprint, features supporting the Civil Service Hub’s sustainability credentials include:

• Terracotta façade panels – an acknowledgement of the town’s architectural heritage – that are highly sustainable and help reduce the building’s embodied carbon
• Consumption-led mechanical and electrical services that will create energy savings whilst improving the building’s indoor environment for occupiers
• Air source heat pumps to provide low-carbon heating and cooling

All these design features will provide a wellbeing boost for occupiers and contribute to increased productivity.

Designed by London-based Make Architects, the building will also feature a large reception lobby and a high-quality fit-out including open plan working areas, meeting rooms, quiet zones, and other flexible workplace settings, with high levels of natural daylight and generous, airy ceiling heights throughout.

Furthermore, with ground floor facilities that encourage active travel – including cycle storage, showers and changing facilities – the Civil Service Hub aims to promote sustainable transport for visitors and residents. It is within walking distance to the new tram interchange and Blackpool’s North train station too, is on the local bus network, and will be connected via cycle and pedestrian routes.

This will help to bring new people into the town centre, increasing footfall, and boosting trade for local businesses.

Gary Hughes, Regional Director for VINCI Building, commented: “We’re proud to be working with Muse and Blackpool Council in delivering this key project, which will undoubtedly create one of the most modern public workspaces in the UK, while setting a new benchmark in sustainable construction.

“From the outset, we have sought to create new employment opportunities for local people. By engaging with local organisations, we have been able to create an on-site skills academy which provides real-life training and education opportunities for those people furthest from the employment market and seeking work within construction. This remains extremely successful in upskilling future talent towards an industry which continues to cry out for skilled personnel.”

For more information about plans to make Blackpool better, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/betterblackpool  and to enquire about moving your business into the Talbot Gateway visit www.talbotgateway.com

Passenger trams have connected up with Blackpool’s main train station for the first time in over 60 years.

The opening of a 600 metre track extension connecting the current Promenade tramway with a new tram stop by Blackpool North train station was celebrated at a special event on Wednesday 12 June.

The first passengers to take the historic trip up Talbot Road won a local prize draw to become the first people to enjoy the journey to the train station since 1963.

Blackpool Transport will run a range of special tours over the coming days, with the route opened up to fare paying passengers from Sunday 16 June.

Once open, trams will leave and arrive at the new North Station tram stop roughly every fifteen minutes between 0545hrs and 2345hrs. As a general guide, trams going south to Squires Gate will leave on the quarter hours (15 minutes’ past and 45 minutes’ past), with trams going north to Fleetwood Ferry leaving on the hour and half hour, however the timetable will be adjusted based on need. These routes will work alongside with the mainline tram operation which continues to run between Starr Gate and Fleetwood between 0500hrs and 2300hrs.

To support the additional journeys created by the extension, two new Flexity-2 trams have been added to the running stock.

The new Blackpool North tram stop sits alongside the Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant, which opened in May, while passengers can walk through to Blackpool North train station via a new underpass. A range of retail units surround the new tram stop and underpass.

Over two million passengers per year use Blackpool North train station, while Blackpool itself welcomed 20 million visitors in 2022. The extension and new tram stop form part of the Talbot Gateway area with the tram offering an extended commuting route for workers as well as a tourism route.

The £23m tramway extension was funded by Blackpool Council and received £16.4m from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal funding.

Alan Cavill, Director of Communications and Regeneration at Blackpool Council, said: “Opening this new tramway extension has many benefits for Blackpool. “It provides more sustainable commuting routes for workers getting into the town centre or connecting with the train station, while for our tourism businesses, it also means that customers can reach their hotel, shop or attraction even easier, supporting the local economy.”

Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services, said: “Bringing back the iconic trams to Talbot Road after 60 years marks a significant milestone in Blackpool’s history and its journey towards a vibrant future. “As Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services, I am thrilled to witness this momentous occasion, which not only enhances our transportation network but also contributes to the economic and cultural revival of our beloved town and the 20 million visitors that we proudly serve. “Together, we embark on a new era of connectivity, accessibility, and progress for the community we proudly serve.”

Plans have been submitted for a new £45m office development in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway.

Full planning permission is being sought for a 52,950 sq ft office building off Talbot Road, which would bring over 1,000 additional employees into Blackpool town centre.

The land, on the site of the former Apollo 2000 store, sits within the boundary of the Talbot Gateway development around Blackpool North train station and will bring an additional economic benefit to the town centre.

Blackpool Council and its development partner Muse are in advanced discussions with an organisation that wishes to develop and occupy a new office within the town centre.

This office would be the fifth phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway development, which is bringing over 8,000 workers and students into Blackpool town centre.

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council, said: “This is another major step forward in our plans to make Blackpool better and boost our local economy.

“The area around the train station was previously a desolate area in desperate need of regeneration. Over the last ten years we have regenerated it into a desirable location for businesses looking for quality office space on the Fylde coast. Our initial ambition and investment to build the earlier phases of the Talbot Gateway has led us to be in this position where more organisations are approaching us to help them move their jobs into the town centre.

“In turn, that has a huge potential for the private sector to continue to invest in Blackpool, creating more opportunities for business and creating more year-round, well-paid jobs for local people”

Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, said: “The fifth phase of Talbot Gateway will provide a further catalyst for Blackpool’s renaissance, helping to spur additional economic growth in the town by delivering yet more future-proofed workspace to benefit business in the region.

“Our long-standing partnership with Blackpool Council has already played a pivotal role in the regeneration of the town, and this development would mark yet another notable staging point on the journey towards reframing this iconic seaside destination.”

Phase one, including new Grade A offices, Sainsbury’s supermarket and an upgraded 650 space multi-storey car park, was completed in 2014. Phase two, a new 144 bed Holiday Inn hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant opened on 1 May 2024. A tramway extension, interchange with the train station and surrounding retail units are due to open next month.

Phase three, a Civil Service Hub office for over 3,000 government workers is under construction and expected to open in 2025, while planning consent has been granted for a Multiversity campus for Blackpool and the Fylde College in phase four, bringing up to 3,000 more students and staff into the area.

The Talbot Gateway is a sustainable development regenerating the heart of Blackpool around the main train station, which currently receives two million passengers per year, with the number expected to rise as new developments are completed.

The site is accessible via train, tram and bus, as well as a 650-space car park off Talbot Road. Plans for an additional car park at the corner of Church Street and King Street will be submitted later this year.

For more information on regeneration plans to make Blackpool better.

The Talbot Gateway continues to offer options for private businesses to invest, with development opportunities around the area, as well as retail opportunities in and around the new tramway interchange.

The Holiday Inn Blackpool has opened its doors to its first guests, as part of the second phase of the £350m regeneration of the Talbot Gateway.

The Holiday Inn Blackpool, managed by RBH Hospitality Management, is council owned and is part of the wider regeneration project, Talbot Gateway, developed by Muse Places in partnership with Blackpool Council.

The development is conveniently placed off the side of the train station, offering a central hub for both business and leisure guests arriving in Blackpool.

The hotel sits above an improved underpass connecting passengers from Blackpool North train station with a new tram stop and extension connecting to the Blackpool tramway along the Promenade. The new tram extension and underpass will open in mid-June.

In addition, retail units around the underpass are currently available to lease.

The wider Talbot Gateway programme is regenerating the town centre, by bringing 8,000 professional workers and students to the area in the coming years.

Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd, who has been coming to Blackpool since he was a child and says the town will always have a very special place in his heart, was there to cut the official ribbon to signal the opening of Holiday Inn Blackpool.

He said: “It was a real honour to be here today to meet everybody and open the new Holiday Inn. Who doesn’t love Blackpool? – it is a very special place and such a fun place.”

Jack joined staff from the hotel in the ribbon cutting ceremony, including General Manager, Mark Winter.

Mark said: “What a day it’s been opening our doors to all our new guests, with help from Corrie legend Jack P Shepherd who has added a real sense of occasion to the day. “The 144 hotel rooms and Marco’s New York Italian restaurant look fantastic – there’s a cool bar vibe where you really can feel like you’re in Ibiza! We can’t wait to welcome families, business travellers and food fanatics too – there really is something for everyone. “Here’s hoping for a wonderful summer season in Blackpool.”

The hotel and restaurant received almost 4,000 applications for the 70 roles available – showing how keen people are to work in the town. And the team has given 97% of all posts to local people in Blackpool.

Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, said: “The opening of Blackpool’s Holiday Inn realises a significant component of the Talbot Gateway scheme to the town and its wider regeneration.

“Alongside the new Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant, and situated next to Blackpool North train station, the hotel forms a critical part of our shared vision to deliver an even brighter Blackpool, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the town’s economy over the coming years.”

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 over 3,000 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 up to 3,000 more staff and students to the area.

Blackpool’s tramway extension is set to welcome its first passengers on the 12 June and residents of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre can enter the draw to be on the very first tram.

After a £23.42 million investment Blackpool’s new extended tramway is only weeks away from taking its first passengers.

On Wednesday June 12 the first passenger tram will travel from Blackpool Transport’s Starr Gate tram depot at Squires Gate to the new terminus adjacent to Blackpool North Train Station. Fylde Coast residents are being invited to enter a draw to be in with a chance of travelling on the first tram along the new tram track extension.

To celebrate the launch there are 10 pairs of First Rider tickets up for grabs giving the lucky winners a seat on the first passenger tram from Blackpool along Talbot Road to Blackpool North train station since 1963.

The winners will receive:

• Refreshments at Starr Gate tram depot
• Return tram journey from the tram depot to the new Blackpool North tram stop
• Celebration brunch at the new Marco’s New York Italian restaurant
• Goody bag including commemorative gift

The £23.42 million investment has been made possible with funding from Lancashire’s Growth Deal funding and Blackpool Council

The first regular trams taking fare paying passengers will start on Sunday 16 June with details of routes and timings available nearer the time. There will also be limited tickets available on special tram tours on the 13, 14 and 15 June. Tickets will be on sale from the middle of May and more detail will be released in due course. Visit www.blackpooltransport.com for more information.

Alan Cavill, Director of Communications and Regeneration said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the new tramway extension will be running in time for the summer.

“The First Rider ticket draw gives residents a chance to be part of a historic event for the town. We wanted to make it a special occasion as it is such an important day for the Fylde Coast.

“The extension to the tramway is an important piece in the council’s commitment to create a modern and integrated transport network across Blackpool which is important for both residents and visitors. It will make it easier for people to get to work, places of interest and carryout our everyday lives.

“The tramway extension will also enable everyone to travel more easily across town but also across the Northwest and further afield in a quicker more efficient way”.

In addition to the tramway extension, hotel and restaurant, a series of retail units are available for lease around the new tram stop.