Blackpool Central site moving towards next development phase

Blackpool Council is being recommended to continue with a procurement exercise to find a developer for the Blackpool Central site.

A procurement exercise to find a developer/investor for the Blackpool Central site is being recommended to Blackpool Council’s Executive, at its next meeting on 14 September.

The recommendations follow the decision to appoint leading marketing consultants Newmark HDH and theleisureway in October 2025, who have been working with the council to promote the development potential for the site both nationally and internationally at major property events, including MIPIM and UKREiiF.

If approved, the procurement process is expected to begin next month, with the successful development partner expected to be appointed in spring 2027.

Blackpool Central is a 10-acre site in the shadow of The Blackpool Tower. The site sits in the heart of the town centre, benefitting from a prime location, high footfall and great transport connectivity via a direct road off the M55 motorway, as well as via Blackpool Tower tram stop.

The site opens up onto Blackpool Promenade and seafront, as well as the resort’s main area for major events such as Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool Air Show and the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool.

The site also features a 1,306 space multi-storey car park, which opened in 2024, while demolition of the police station and courts building have created a shovel-ready site in preparation for the future development.

Recent upgrades have been carried out at the King Edwards properties on Central Drive, including improvements to the façades and windows, tidying up the appearance and improving the security of the buildings. This is part of the council’s commitment to maintain the site until further development works progress.

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said: “This is another important step towards bringing a new and exciting leisure attraction to Blackpool.

"The site offers a unique opportunity to deliver a major mixed-use leisure-led development in the heart of the town, creating even more reasons for people to visit Blackpool throughout the year and helping make Blackpool better for residents, businesses and future generations.

“The work carried out to date has generated strong interest in the site, and this next stage will help us find the right development partner who shares our ambition to deliver something truly exception. We look forward to seeing the opportunity progress over the coming months.”

The development of the Blackpool Central site also supports the council’s wider ambitions to make Central Drive better, including a major housing-led regeneration scheme to improve housing quality and create stronger communities, building more social housing at Foxhall Village, a new community sports village at Blackpool Football Club and improvements to Revoe Park.