Update on stalled plan for new multi-million pound magistrates court

Stalled plans to build a new multi-million pound magistrates court in Blackpool are progressing with a new developer for the major project announced.

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, which is delivering the project, has revealed that the project is finally progressing once again after a frustrating setback caused by the original contractor, ISG, going into administration in September 2024.

While ISG’s situation delayed proposals to build the much-needed new courthouse on land at the junction of Devonshire Road and Talbot Road, the old court building was demolished in March 2025 along with the old Bonny Street Police Station, clearing the site for the ambitious £300 million Blackpool Central scheme, a major leisure-led regeneration project.

ISG was reported to be holding more than £1bn worth of government contracts before falling into administration, putting 2,200 workers at risk of redundancy.

Meanwhile, the need for a new court building gained increasing urgency, with defendants, lawyers, and court staff having been forced to travel to alternative courts outside of Blackpool – including Preston and Lancaster – for the past three years following the initial court closure in November 2023 following the discovery of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).

In a new statement today, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service said: “HMCTS remains committed to delivering the new courthouse at the junction of Devonshire Road and Talbot Road. The contractor previously appointed to build the new courthouse went into administration, but a contract has now been signed with Morgan Sindall Construction.

“The detailed design phase is now progressing. Once this phase is complete, we will have a clearer understanding of the likely project timescales and further updates will be announced as soon as we can provide them. Contingency plans to hold hearings at other sites within the region remain in place while the project to build a new courthouse progresses.”

Proposals for Blackpool’s new three-storey courthouse were unanimously approved by the council’s Planning Committee in February 2024 after being submitted by the Ministry of Justice in October 2023. Funding towards the new courthouse includes £40m from the Levelling Up Fund and £8m from the Town Deal.

Blackpool councillor Julie Sloman says the need do the new courthouse is urgent. “The design plans submitted within the original application were for a state-of-the-art aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing building, sympathetic to the very different needs of victims and defendants,” she said. “I do hope these factors continue to be reflected in the completed project.

“In terms of inconvenience to residents I do worry that victims of crime are having to travel out of area to receive justice, suffering a financial detriment and more importantly possibly without the support of their families and the familiarity of surroundings known to them.”