New £45m office development could bring 1,000 jobs to resort

Full planning permission is being sought for a new £45m office development in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway.

With discussions already underway with a potential tenant, it is hoped that the 52,950 sq ft building would bring more than 1,000 additional employees into the resort's town centre.

Blackpool Council has worked with its development partner Muse to create the plans for the site of the former Apollo 2000 store, which sits within the boundary of the Talbot Gateway development around Blackpool North train station.

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.

Coun Mark Smith, cabinet member for levelling up (place) at Blackpool Council, said: "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."

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.