St Annes celebrates 150 years with completion of phase one of masterplan

Fylde Council has unveiled a spectacular transformation of St Annes Square in time for the town’s momentous 150th anniversary celebrations.

The eagerly anticipated improvements have breathed new life into the heart of St Annes whilst carefully preserving its cherished character, creating a more accessible, connected and vibrant space for residents and visitors alike.

“This is a landmark moment for St Annes,” said Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council. “As we celebrate 150 years of our beautiful seaside town, our £3.13 million investment has delivered a square that honours our heritage whilst looking confidently to the future. The improvements perfectly balance preservation with progress, ensuring St Annes remains a destination of choice for generations to come.”

The transformation prioritises accessibility with significantly wider pavements, retained car parking spaces, and the welcome resumption of two-way traffic on St Annes Road West. Enhanced transport connectivity includes new bus lay-bys and seamless links between the railway station and bus services, making the Square more welcoming and accessible than ever before.

Existing features have been thoughtfully preserved, such as the iconic blue domes and original paving stones, while existing planting is beautifully complemented by new salt-tolerant varieties. Exciting modern additions enhance both day and night-time use, including stylish benches with integrated LED lighting, three new drinking fountains, electricity points in five domes for future events, plus sustainable drainage and enhanced street lighting – all designed with an inspired coastal palette that brilliantly celebrates St Annes' seaside heritage.

The successful delivery of this transformative scheme has been made possible through funding from Fylde Council, Lancashire County Council and the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside close collaboration with St Annes Town Council alongside our partners George Cox & Sons as main contractors and design consultants Gosling Consulting and BDP, whose expertise has been instrumental in bringing this ambitious vision to life.

Councillor Gavin Harrison of St Annes Town Council commented: “St Annes Town Council welcome the much-needed improvements to the Square being completed. We hope that residents and businesses will benefit from the new look to the town and that it will bring in visitors for many years to come.”

Chris Cox, Managing Director at George Cox, said: “Everyone at George Cox is rightly proud to have been given the opportunity to enhance St Annes Square.

“The entire construction team would like to thank everyone for their patience and support throughout the build process. It has been greatly appreciated to receive so many positive comments about the considerate way the works were carried out and the high quality of the finished scheme.”

Dan Gosling, Director at Gosling Consulting, added: “The Gosling Consulting team are hugely proud to have a played a part in the delivery of the St Annes Square Improvements project. To be part of this collaborative team, resulting in such a transformation, is fantastic, and we look forward to the successful delivery of future phases!”

Matthew Costa, Landscape Architect Director at BDP, said: “The new Events Space in St Annes is a transformative town centre project, shaped by rigorous consultation with local residents and Fylde council.

“The result is a design that brings a new heart to the town, balancing traffic with a flexibility, inclusivity and year-round activity that supports a whole community. We are very proud to have been part of the project.”

The transformed Square is already proving to be an incredibly vibrant events space. Following July's triumphant St Annes Carnival, the Square will become home to many beloved St Annes events, including the popular Farmers Market relocating to the new setting from September. Our exciting programme of summer activities includes:

• Yoga in the Square: Free sessions every Saturday from 9 August through to the end of September.
• St Annes Music Festival: The Urban Stage comes to the Square on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August, bringing live music to the heart of our town.
• St Annes Kite Festival: Activities will extend into the Square on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August. Phase Two of the Masterplan, scheduled to begin later this year, will see equally exciting improvements to Garden Street and Pier Link, improving connections between Ashton Gardens, the Square and the Pier to ensure design continuity throughout the town.

The St Annes Square improvements represent a significant investment in Fylde’s future, creating a town centre fit for the next 150 years while celebrating everything that makes St Annes truly special.

Pictured: Ian Walker (Senior Projects Manager), Dan Atkinson (Head of Tourism), Dan Gosling (Gosling Consulting Director) , Cllr Gavin Harrison (St Annes Town Council), Cllr Karen Harrison (Mayor of St Annes Town Council), Cllr Karen Buckley (Leader of Fylde Council), Cllr Richard Redcliffe (Deputy Leader of Fylde Council), Matt Costa (BDP Landscape Architect Director), Dale Hanson (George Cox Assistant Site Manager), Scarlett O’Neill (George Cox Public Liaison Officer), Marion Manvell (George Cox Public Liaison Officer), Chris O’Neill (George Cox Site Manager), Maisie Willder (Business Support and Marketing Officer)