The creation of a ‘mini–Canary Wharf’ is promoting Blackpool to an increasingly global audience as an all-year round international visitor destination, according to the manager of one of the resort's leading hotels.
Mark Winter, general manager of Holiday Inn Blackpool, described the £350m Talbot Gateway mixed-use regeneration project as an economic game changer, creating a central business district and civic quarter for more than 8,000 workers and students and helping to attract a rising number of corporate and commercial visitors.
He said: “Talbot Gateway is creating what I describe as a ‘mini–Canary Wharf’ for Blackpool, acting as a major catalyst for growth and giving a powerful message to national and international audiences that times are changing for the resort.
“As proud ambassadors of Blackpool, we’re projecting the resort on a global stage, with corporate and commercial visitors from home and overseas joining domestic guests to make the town and its many attractions an all-year round, 365-day a year destination.”
Led by Blackpool Council and its long-term regeneration partner Muse, part of Morgan Sindall Group, Talbot Gateway is transforming about 20 acres around Blackpool North train station to bring more than 8,000 workers and students to the town centre.
Developed by the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) and championed by the Lancashire Business Board (LBB), comprising members of the county’s leading regional, national and international businesses, the Lancashire Growth Plan identifies transformational development and infrastructure projects in five high-growth business sectors with the potential to attract more than £20bn of additional public and private investment.
Together, these projects could create thousands of jobs and strengthen Lancashire’s role at the heart of the national economy.
Mark Rawstron, property development and regeneration spokesperson for LBB, said: “High profile schemes including Talbot Gateway prove Blackpool is securing essential public and private sector investment in property and people to generate sustainable growth for the town and Lancashire.
“The resort is building on its long-established brand at home to attract an increasingly international audience by delivering quality office and hotel accommodation, cultural programming and year-round free events.”
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