£7m facelift for key Blackpool roads

A £7m project to give key roads around Blackpool town centre a major facelift will start next week.

The project is part of a wider plan to promote economic growth in the resort and secure Blackpool’s position as one of the county’s key economic hubs.

Coun Fred Jackson, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “We know that a strong economy is linked to a good road network, helping visitors come in to the town centre and making it easier for businesses to carry out their daily operations.

Meanwhile, Robert Pinkus & Co has started work on a new commercial development within the recently confirmed Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone on Blackpool Business Park.

Located on Amy Johnson Way, Enterprise Court is part of the Blackpool Enterprise Zone which is set to become a centre of excellence for the energy sector, including hosting the flagship Lancashire Energy HQ, a development by Blackpool & The Fylde College which is backed by £6.2m of Growth Deal funding and will provide a dedicated new training facility for energy technicians. The Zone is also home to Lightworks, where Blackpool Illuminations are manufactured and stored. Coun Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, enterprise and economic development said: “Activity on the Enterprise Zone is really starting to ramp up and 2017 should prove to be a really exciting year to invest in Blackpool. The Enterprise Zone is a key part of Blackpool Council’s economic strategy, already attracting over 400 jobs in less than a year and projected to create around 3,000 jobs in total."