Global property consultants sought for Blackpool Central

The search is under way for property consultants to bring a major Blackpool leisure opportunity to market.

Blackpool Council has launched a tender exercise looking for a highly experienced property marketing agent to help with finding new international investors for the Blackpool Central site.

 The 10-acre Blackpool Central site sits in the shadow of The Blackpool Tower and is accessible via a direct road off the M55 motorway.

It is accessible from Blackpool Promenade, seafront and tram stop and as well as facing on to the resort’s main area for major events such as Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool Air Show and the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool.

A new leisure development at Blackpool Central would add to the town’s £1.98bn visitor economy, which already supports over 22,000 jobs in the area.

Blackpool is also one of the fastest growing economies in the UK amid a wider £2bn growth and prosperity programme.

The site already has outline planning permission for indoor attractions, hotels and restaurants, as well as full planning permission to create a heritage quarter converting the King Edward VII Cinema and apartments into a food and drink hall, aparthotel and retail space.

Once the site of Blackpool Central train station, the council is currently clearing the land to create a shovel ready site.

 A 1,306 space multi-storey car park opened in 2024, while work to demolish the final structures – a police station and courts building – is expected to complete this summer.

Work to demolish the buildings and court has been supported by a £6.95m grant by UK Government as part of the Blackpool Town Deal.

Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool Central sits right at the heart of our plans to make Blackpool better for everybody.

 “I believe that this is one of the most exciting leisure development opportunities in the country.

I look forward to finding a company that shares our vision for a world-class leisure development which creates jobs for our local people, extends our tourism season and supports our local economy to grow.”

The news comes after Lancashire Business View reported that the Blackpool Central leisure investment site and the resort’s Silicon Sands data centre campus were pitched to investors at a global property conference.

The two major investment opportunities were highlighted by a delegation from the town at MIPIM, the world’s most influential property event, which takes place annually in Cannes on the French Riviera.

The Blackpool Central redevelopment site was placed on the market following the collapse of a £300m leisure project at the end of last year.

The move came after Nikal, the developer behind the plan - described as the largest single investment in the town for more than a century – appointed administrators.

The tender exercise runs until 6 June 2025. More details are available at http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/blackpoolcentral