78
DEBATE BLACKPOOL
IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
THE TIDE CONTINUES TO TURN
Blackpool is making headlines for all the right reasons as investment pours into the town. We brought our panel to the new £30m Winter Gardens conference centre with the support of Blackpool Makes It Work to discuss what is driving that investment and how it is impacting on the resort and its levelling up ambitions
Nick Gerrard – Blackpool Council
This is a really exciting time for Blackpool. In terms of its growth and development it is getting a lot of attention nationally now for the many things that are going on here. There is a huge range of investment that has either happened, is happening, or is about to happen.
It ranges from the Blackpool Central £300m leisure scheme to create a year-round tourism economy to the growth in new sector jobs at the Enterprise Zone. Then there is the radical transformation of the town centre and the new conference facility at Winter Gardens, which now has a 7,000 capacity and is up and running.
In terms of other investments, there is the relocation of 3,000 civil servants taking place in the town centre, other developments at Talbot Gateway and up to 1,000 new hotel rooms to complement the tourism and business offer.
So, the elevator pitch in terms of Blackpool is that it is now being transformed. It has all the favourite things that people have such an affection for but is now moving on to the next level and is becoming a serious place for growth to improve the life chances of the people here.
While there is a major focus on looking after the visitor economy, with 80 million visits a year, we want to give greater opportunities. Blackpool also has the attention of government through the levelling up agenda, working with us.
We need to get to a tipping point, where the private sector will invest substantially without public sector intervention.
We are coming close but we’re not there yet. The momentum that is now building will get us to that stage.
Nick Gerrard
There is a lot of positive talk about what’s happening in Blackpool, however there is not the remotest sense of complacency.
PRESENT:
Richard Slater - Lancashire Business View (chair) Joseph Boniface - Joseph Boniface Architects
Peter Evans - Winter Gardens Nick Gerrard - Blackpool Council Sue Grindrod - Blackpool BIDs
Karen Hirst - Maple Grove Developments John Sullivan- Backlot Cinemas
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
