Work is about to get underway on Blackpool’s biggest single investment for more than a century.
The £300m Blackpool Central leisure development just off the Golden Mile is expected to create over 1,000 jobs for local people, attract 600,000 additional visitors each year and bring millions of pounds of additional spend into the town.
The first phase of development is the creation of a new multi-storey car park, which will free up the existing Central Car Park to enable the leisure phase of the development which includes new attractions, hotel, restaurants, events square and heritage quarter.
The new car park will ensure there is sufficient parking for residents and visitors. In order to progress development there will need to be some road closures.
Road Closures:
Where: Entrance to Central Car Park at Seasiders Way where it crosses Chapel Street via the bridge
When: Closed from Wednesday 23 March 2022 until spring 2023
There will be no through route for traffic during this period via Central Car Park and Chapel Street.
The diversions will be clearly signposted with traffic being diverted via routes at Parkinson Way/Waterloo Road and Bloomfield Road.
Pedestrian routes will be clearly marked into the town centre.
Parking:
800 parking spaces will still be available at the existing Central Car Park via the main car park entrance on Central Drive.
Foxhall Village Car & Coach Park, Seasiders Way Car Park, Sandsway Coach Park and Lonsdale Car Park will all remain open as normal during this time.
Neil Jack, Chief Executive of Blackpool Council, said, “With a development of this size and significance to the town, it is inevitable there will be some disruption to surrounding roads while the work is underway and we will work closely with all the local businesses and residents in the area to keep them up-to-date on progress.
“We appreciate that a car park isn’t the most exciting part of this transformational development but it is the key to unlocking the land required for Blackpool Central. It’s essential that we make sure there is enough parking spaces for our visitors, and to protect our businesses so that they don’t lose out on important trade during all phases of construction, which will take several years.
“This major investment project will bring significant benefits to the community by boosting the economy and increasing footfall to the area, strengthening our tourism offer, and providing year round, steady employment that will improve quality of life for our residents.”