Learn more about the multiphase £350m Talbot Gateway development
Talbot Gateway is the heart of Blackpool’s central business district and is a flagship programme for the town’s wider £2bn+ growth and prosperity programme.
The £350m+ scheme is being delivered by Blackpool Council in partnership with Muse Developments, creating over 1.1m sq ft of commercial development.
The aim of Talbot Gateway’s renaissance is to elevate Blackpool’s town centre and transform the area around Blackpool North train station, bringing new developments to the town and turbocharging the town centre economy by bringing 8,000 professional workers and students in the area.
Where is Talbot Gateway?
Talbot Gateway extends to around 20 acres surrounding the Blackpool North train station, allowing it to be a central point for 20 million visitors who come to Blackpool annually.
The area offers exceptional connectivity through a direct tramway service to the seafront opening in June, while also offering a major bus interchange, cycleways, plus driving and parking routes.
What are the different phases of Talbot Gateway?
Talbot Gateway is being delivered in six phases over several years, resulting in a modern and fresh business district, complete with a number of state-of-the-art developments.
Phase One
Phase One included the redevelopment of the area surrounding Talbot Road with 85,000 sq m of new office and business space, hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants, which opened in 2014, including:
- A brand new office buildingfor Blackpool Council at Bickerstaffe House. The BREEAM Excellent, 150,000 sq ft space provides a Grade A home to around 1,000 council employees.
- Talbot Road Car Park – The multi storey car park was revamped with 650 parking spaces for those who work in the centre and tourists alike, with a restaurant and gym underneath.
A new flagship food store – Sainsbury’s occupies the 120,000 sq ft space built to mirror the style of Bickerstaffe House, with 600 parking spaces, and around 300 employees.
Phase Two
Holiday Inn and Tramway extension
The four-star Holiday Inn opened in May. The 144-room hotel is home to a Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant on its ground floor, with business conferencing facilities and a fitness centre for guests. The new hotel has added to Blackpool’s growing range of quality branded hotels, supporting the town’s growing tourism and conferencing offer.
An extension to Blackpool tramway that connects the Talbot Gateway and train station directly with Blackpool Promenade opens in June 2024. It will also have an underpass which allows pedestrians to access the hotel and tramway straight from the station.
Over 5,000 sq ft of retail units have also been constructed around the new tram stop to benefit from the two million annual passengers through the train station. Some units are still available to let – enquire here.
Phase Three
Civil Service Hub
The largest commercial development since The Blackpool Tower, the new Civil Service Hub is being developed by Blackpool Council and Muse as a new regional home for the UK Government.
The seven storey, 215,000 sq ft offices are designed to be completely sustainable and achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. It will create and protect local jobs, drive footfall traffic as well as invigorate the town centre economy and will mean over 3,000 civil servants relocating to the town centre when it opens in 2025.
Phase Four
Multiversity
The new £65m campus for Blackpool & The Fylde College will deliver a cutting-edge response to local, regional and national educational priorities.
A high quality and professional curriculum will be available, co-created with local employers and in partnership with Blackpool and the Fylde College (B&FC) and Lancaster University.
The Multiversity will deliver education at multiple levels of academia; further education, higher education and adult learning courses.
The plans would provide up to 32,600 sq m of education space and offer over 70 individual courses bringing up to 3,000 new staff and students to the town centre.
Phase Five
New quality office accommodation
A new £45m office development on cleared brownfield land next to Blackpool North train station.
The office will bring over 1,000 workers into the area at a 50,000 sq ft office development, with construction set to start in 2025.
Phase Six
Plans are due to be submitted this year for a new multi storey-car park behind the Civil Service Hub. The 700 space car park would support the huge growth in professional workers and students over the coming years.
What’s next for Talbot Gateway?
The Talbot Gateway is completely transforming the centre of Blackpool, creating quality office accommodation, an improved retail offer, civic squares, better transportation connectivity and infrastructure for Blackpool residents and businesses.
Development Opportunities
There are still opportunities to invest in the Talbot Gateway, from development plots around the current developments to retail availability throughout.
To stay up to date with Talbot Gateway and enquire about investing, get in touch with the Growth and Prosperity Team.
