Construction begins on new Multiversity campus in Blackpool's town centre

Construction has now started on the new Multiversity campus, with representatives from all key stakeholders joining together on site to mark another major milestone in the transformation of the town centre.

Work is now underway on the new campus for Blackpool and The Fylde College, following approval of an updated planning application earlier this year, which will bring 3,000 students, apprentices and staff into the heart of Blackpool when it opens its doors in September 2028.

The 115,000 sq. ft. educational space will create a modern, inspiring and aspirational new learning environment in the town centre, helping position Blackpool as a centre for education, skills and opportunity.

As part of the development, George Street has now closed to traffic ready to be transformed into a public realm space once construction is complete, supporting our wider commitment to regenerate the Talbot Gateway area and create a more attractive, accessible town centre.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to see construction begin on the new Multiversity campus.

“This marks another major milestone for the town, with the Multiversity playing a central role in our plans to make Blackpool an even better place to live, work and learn.

“Creating a new college campus in the heart of the town centre will provide real opportunities for local people to develop new skills, improve their employment prospects and raise aspirations.

“Together with the DWP office that opened last year, the relocation of NHS Business Services Authority staff to Bickerstaffe Square, and the new government office under construction on Talbot Road, these developments will bring more than 8,000 people into the town centre, increasing footfall, supporting local businesses, making Blackpool better and creating new opportunities for Blackpool residents.”

Alun Francis, Chief Executive of Blackpool & The Fylde College, said: “This is a defining moment for the Multiversity – and for the future of education in Blackpool.”

“This represents a bold statement of ambition for the town, creating a flagship development that strengthens our connection to the wider region as the economy evolves and demand for higher-level skills continues to grow.

“The Multiversity will introduce a new model for higher education, opening up more accessible routes into higher skills for people of all ages and backgrounds. As part of this, we are delighted to be among the first institutions able to offer short courses eligible for student loan funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, giving greater flexibility to upskill, retrain or learn across their lives.

“This will attract new people to Blackpool, while also enabling local talent to pursue their ambitions here and progress into higher-skilled, better-paid careers. We are particularly keen to reach those who might think graduate level study is not an option for them.

“Outstanding partnership working has brought us to this milestone – and we are now getting very excited about welcoming our first learners through the doors in September 2028.”

The Multiversity will provide five floors of learning space, delivering more than 70 courses and enhancing the college’s existing higher education offer. The flexible courses will provide skills directly linked to local employment needs, helping to develop a skilled workforce and supporting local people into local careers. The campus will also offer a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.

Construction is being delivered by North West contractor Morgan Sindall Construction, who previously completed the demolition and site clearance works.

Steven Gregory, Area Director, Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “Reaching this stage is a hugely proud moment for everyone involved in the Multiversity project. Over the past few years, an enormous amount of work has gone on behind the scenes by Blackpool Council, Blackpool & The Fylde College, our project partners and the wider delivery team to carefully shape and prepare this scheme for construction.

“Seeing work now begin on site is a significant milestone and a real testament to the collaboration, commitment and shared ambition of all those involved. This development will be transformational for Blackpool, creating an inspiring new education hub in the heart of the town centre while helping to drive opportunity, regeneration and long term economic growth for the community.

“As a North West business, we’re incredibly proud to be delivering a project that will leave such a lasting legacy for future generations.”

In addition to the Multiversity campus, a second phase on the site will provide opportunities for the college’s future expansion as plans are in development to form a wider skills and education campus, which has been identified as a key transformational priority within the recently published Lancashire Growth Plan. In the short term, this area will be used as a temporary car park.

The land for the new Multiversity has been acquired with the support of a £9m Government grant as part of Blackpool’s Town Deal programme, while the construction was also awarded £40m from UK Government in 2023. Both funds have now been combined into a single funding pot known as the Local Regeneration Fund.

The Multiversity forms phase four of Blackpool Council’s £350m regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area around Blackpool North train station, which in total is bringing over 8,000 professional workers and students into the area.

The area has already seen major development over recent years including a 4 star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, improved transport interchange and a new town centre office for the Department of Works and Pensions, with a new government office building for 1,100 staff due to open next year.

A number of highways improvements will also be installed over the next 12 months to aid traffic flow and provide safer routes for pedestrians around the Multiversity site and Talbot Gateway, including improved traffic signal junctions, updated road layouts and new pedestrian crossings. These works will be part funded by the UK Government through the £17m Town Centre Access Scheme.

For more details on regeneration plans in Blackpool, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/BetterBlackpool