2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Blackpool, with major project developments and regeneration plans across the town.
As momentum continues to build around Blackpool’s future prospects, the coming year will see key regeneration schemes move decisively from planning into progress – while new commercial, digital, education and leisure projects will unlock jobs and investment.
Here’s what you can expect to see taking shape across Blackpool in 2026.
Silicon Sands
Blackpool’s flagship digital campus Silicon Sands will reach a major milestone in 2026 with the first data centre development progressing on site.
Having recently submitted an outline planning application and inviting tender bids, site works will advance to prepare the first data centre plot – marking the beginning of Blackpool’s transformation into a major national data and digital hub.
Silicon Sands is one of Blackpool’s most ambitious projects, designed to attract high-performance, technology-focused businesses. Sustainability is at the heart of the development, with renewable energy use and heat-reuse technologies planned to support neighbouring businesses and reduce carbon emissions.
Read more about Silicon Sands receiving regional and national attention here: https://businessinblackpool.com/growing-momentum-for-silicon-sands-potential/
Blackpool Multiversity
Following the construction preparation currently underway on Cookson Street, construction of the Multiversity campus will begin in 2026 – a development that will transform the town’s education and economic landscape and bring up to 3,000 students and staff into the town centre.
The purpose-built education facility for Blackpool and The Fylde College will deliver a state-of-the-art, five-storey learning environment, providing high-level skills and training across a wide range of sectors including digital, construction, health, engineering and creative industries.
The Multiversity is part of a bold new approach to higher education, designed to be more flexible and more closely aligned to real-world skills needs and employer demand.
Its aim is to open up new routes into learning, supporting social mobility while helping learners progress into highly skilled jobs that are increasingly in demand.
Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone
Work on the new access road serving the Eastern Gateway of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone will be completed in early 2026, opening up development plots for a new generation of high-quality commercial occupiers and and taking the Enterprise Zone closer towards its aim of creating 5,000 new jobs.
The new road will unlock up to 10.5 hectares of development land, enabling modern industrial and logistics buildings of up to 85,000 sq ft to come forward.
Plots are available now to businesses on a design and build, joint venture or long-leasehold basis, creating a prime new location for growing regional and national operators.
The Enterprise Zone continues to position Blackpool as one of the North West’s most competitive business locations and is home to leading manufacturers, financial companies and engineering firms.
For more information about the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, visit the website: https://blackpoolez.com/
Blackpool Central
Blackpool Central continues to move forward in 2026, building on its position as one of the most significant leisure-led regeneration opportunities in the UK.
Located at the foot of Blackpool Tower, the 10-acre site has ambitions to be a world-class leisure and visitor destination, capable of transforming year-round tourism in the town.
Two leading firms have joined forces with Blackpool Council to spearhead plans to bring more private investment to Blackpool Central and engage with the community to understand the best use of the land.
Talbot Gateway MoD Office
Work on a new 50,000 sq ft office for the Ministry of Defence (Defence Business Services) started in May 2025. Once complete in 2027, it will bring an additional 1,100 workers to the Talbot Gateway.
Forming phase 5 of the wider £350m regeneration of Talbot Gateway, the land, on the site of the former Apollo 2000 store, sits within the boundary of the Talbot Gateway development around Blackpool North train station and will bring an additional economic benefit to the town centre.
Town Centre Access Scheme
Works are set to begin in 2026 for Blackpool’s Town Centre Access Scheme, an initiative set to transform Blackpool town centre’s transport network under the council’s £2 billion regeneration programme for Blackpool.
The scheme looks to improve traffic and journey times and implement safer and more accessible spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and bus users, along with allowing future development projects to be supported across Blackpool.
Central Housing Scheme
Blackpool’s Central Housing Scheme will be moving towards the planning stage in early 2026, with an outline application submitted for the regenerated area and following community feedback sessions where residents shared views on how to improve their neighbourhoods.
The housing project is the first phase of a wider regeneration plan for the area that will deliver better homes, greener streets, and improved amenities. A Regeneration Area Framework covers a much larger part of central Blackpool, which looks at how to create better housing, neighbourhoods, and local facilities.
Where you can find us this year
MIPIM 2026 – 9–13 March
Blackpool will once again be on the international investment stage at MIPIM in Cannes alongside Place North’s delegation of northern towns and businesses.
Our delegation will be promoting the town as an unmissable location for future investment to global developers, investors and operators with projects including Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, Silicon Sands, Blackpool Central and the town as a whole.
UKREiiF 2026 – 19–21 May
We’re going to be exhibiting at UKREiiF for the fifth consecutive year, ready to discuss Blackpool’s growth with even more delegates.
At the UK’s leading real estate investment forum in Leeds, Blackpool will showcase its development pipeline, skills and digital ambitions, and major investment-ready sites.
We can’t wait to see all the changes in Blackpool this year!
If you’re interested in learning more about what’s to come and opportunities to be a part of it, contact us here.
