Blackpool

[liverpolitan]

http://www.nwda.co.uk/pdf/Blackpool%...e%20Report.pdf

Sorry if anyone has posted it earlier, I couldn't see it. This is a short report, prepared by a Government inspired Task Force to look at the way forward for Blackpool after the casino decision. A lot of ideas in there, but the Government hasn't responded to it yet so not sure which bits will be supported or funded.

My own take on it is that it's not enough, and really there does have to be a regional (ie large) casino for Blackpool.

[Brummyboy92]

Just been on Wikerpedia about Blackpool and it says they are trying for the super casino again, is this true?

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by Brummyboy92

Just been on Wikerpedia about Blackpool and it says they are trying for the super casino again, is this true?

Yes and no.

The council didn't officially give up on it, but as the government have, the whole project has died a death.

I went to the Re Blackpool shop which lists all the planned projects and they said the area marked for the casino is now ear marked just for a conference centre.


On another front, Blackpool is still awaiting news about wether or not it can have the money to turn the tram system in to a true Light Rail system and it's other regeneration projects. Labour has two MP's in Blackpool and both are going to get hammered at the next election. Blackpool has been well and truely ignored by New Labour:

This is from today's Gazette:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...ash.3632849.jp

[Brummyboy92]

Bastards

[Zim Flyer]

Just spent an excellent week in Blackpool and the development projects continue at a pace.

The three currently under construction are the prominard, the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre and the Tram Line rebuilding. The main project to start next year will be the Talbot gateway.

This is what the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre will look like:





These are some pictures I took last week (encouragingly most of the stores have are now prelet including the flagship Debenhams one):







I'll post some pictures when I get some time of the Prominard plans and works and the Tramline construction works

[Brightonboi]

Ive noticed there are a lot of shopping centres being built all acros the country! Its good, Every city deserves one!

[Zim Flyer]

I took these pictures of the renders for the new prominard, it's a huge project and will be awesome when it is completed in 2009:







Once completed it is planned to create a People’s Playground on it, which will be a mix of shows and events and lots of light.

Although at this moment in time the people's playground doesn't have confirmed funding due to a lottery rejection.

The people who are working on it have got balls of steel as they are always up against the strong Blackpool tides:





This is a picture I took back in September of one of the completed sections:

[Zim Flyer]

Rather than put the pictures of Blackpool's tram line rebuilding here, I've put them in the Transport section, I'll update it with pictures and news over the months to come:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=572141

[Prestonian]

The new sections of Promenade are really good, its great to see that the start made on the sections by the pleasure beech is being extended further down the coast.

Out of interest does anyone else think that a bridge accross the ribble estuary to Southport could be a great project to revitalise the entire coast? I think a road would be useful but it should also provide for a tram to run from blackpool to Lytham and on to Southport. A great little cluster of seaside destinations (Lytham might not like it I guess).

[Zim Flyer]

Just spent a superb week in Blackpool and thought I would update news from the Blackpool redevelopment scene:

Firstly a small update on the Houndshill Shopping Centre. I wasn't able to get a great picture from the front as I was on a tour bus at the time but I did manage to get this from the side. It's looking good and is due for opening at the end of August:




The new prominard is looking superb and we were really impressed with it. The colour of the stone they are using just oozes quality. They opened some bits of it up but there is still alot of work to do:





Some additional good news is that it's just been announced that Blackpool is to get 11 million pounds to build a giant outdoor concert venue for 20,000 people on the new prominard outside the tower:



This picture I took on Thursday from the Tower shows the extent of the Prominard works:



Away from Blackpool, the Prominard at Cleverley's is almost complete and it looks lovely:







For any ship fans out there, here lies the wreck of the Riverdance:

[delores]

Looks a really good development. One suggestion, are there no trees along the sea front because the weathers so bad? It would make this waterfront look so much better.

[ferge]

Didn't know about the Prom redevelopment, looks promising, although Morecambe did/or is doing all the works on improving the Prom, new sculptures etc.. all very nice, but doesn't mean there's anything to do in the actual town's part.. Blackpool needs some serious attention to its buildings from what I can see and remember, especially if they're wanting to be the hub of seaside days out..

[flange]

Blackpool Debenhams opens for business

That was shout today as Blackpool's long-awaited Debenhams store threw open its doors for the first time.

The resort has waited 15 years for a department store to serve shoppers following the demise of Lewis's in January 1993.

But after more than two years construction and an investment of £30m, the high street retailer finally opened for trading.

Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine cut the ribbon at 10am triggering a sea of excited shoppers filing through the doors.

Blackpool is often seen as the poor relation to other North West retail centres so it is hoped the Debenhams store – which forms part of a larger Houndshill development which officially opens on September 6 – can be the flagbearer for the comeback of seaside shopping.

High street big hitters Next, River Island, H&M, Jane Norman, lingerie store La Senza, FX Currency, Passion for Perfume and shoe store Barratts also opened today.

Debenhams store manager Graham Dickinson said: "I'm very proud of what everyone here has achieved. The store looks superb and this will be a great asset to the town.

"Everyone knows how long Blackpool has waited for this moment. Some people questioned whether it would ever happen but it has and I, for one, am delighted.

"This will bring a whole new dimension to shopping in Blackpool. This town deserves to have a great shopping centre and now we are starting to get one. I think we can now safely challenge the likes of Preston and Manchester in the shopping stakes.

"This is just the start. In a few weeks all the hard work of getting the Houndshill complete will be done and we can look forward to a much better future for Blackpool."

Debenhams covers 65,000sq ft of retail space and employs 170 staff.
Coun Peter Callow, leader of Blackpool Council, was the VIP guests who got a sneak preview of the store yesterday.

He said: "We are now firmly back on the shopping map of the North West.
"Retail confidence has come back to Blackpool after more than a decade of decline and we are delighted with the outcome.

"But this is just the start. We have the department store we once craved so much, we now want to bring even more investment into the town. I'm confident that Debenhams will be just the kick-start to a shopping revolution in the resort.

"We are looking for £750m more private investment into the town and I am very confident of achieving that aim."

And Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, added: "This is a great and a great asset to the town.

"It's a positive statement for the resort and a very good start at building up Blackpool's intention of becoming a world class resort once again."

Emmerdale star Kelsey Beth Crossley, who plays Scarlett Nicholls in the hit ITV1 soap, was one of the first through the tills. The Fleetwood actress said: "It's a great store and will bring more people into Blackpool.

"Before Debenhams came along Blackpool was a bit naff, but I'm sure this will change things around."

Building work started in March 2006. It has cost around £6.5m to fit out Debenhams.

Construction firm Balfour Beatty undertook the massive project and worked with Houndshill owners Modus to deliver the goods.

Project manager John Entwistle said: "It's another iconic landmark on the Blackpool skyline and it's unique for the North West.

"A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into this building and we are very pleased with the outcome."

The Debenhams extension will treble the retail space in the centre of town.

Blackpool Mayor Coun Mary Smith said: "It's simply fantastic and just what this town needs. It's going to make Blackpool a better place to shop and there's even more to follow."

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...ess.4413717.jp

[Zim Flyer]

Originally Posted by flange

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...ess.4413717.jp

I'm really pleased about this as it is a good build on the exterior and according to the Blackpool Gazette, they have had 55,000 people in the first day.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...ill.4419885.jp


Now we have the prominard, the out door arena on the prominard due to be built, the new trams coming, the next big project has to be the Talbot Gateway and the rebuilding of the bus and train station area.

At the moment everything is still being negotiated but demolition has started on some buildings in the area.

According to the Reblackpool site, construction is due to start in 2010 but I think it will be more like 2012.

http://www.reblackpool.com/reblackpo...spx?pageid=503

[Zim Flyer]

We should know tomorrow if the Talbot Gateway scheme will be approved:

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/bl...531.jp#3238052

It's absolutely key to Blackpool's future as it's the area by the trainstation and the busstation, so it's the first and last place many people see of Blackpool and at the moment it's a total dump, with lots of concrete buties.

The plan is to move the library here as well (which will be the circular building) along with the law courts:



You can see in this map the size of construction and the amount of demolition that has already being carried out:



Construction is due to start in 2010.

[Zim Flyer]

Just taken from the Reblackpool site (construction due to start in 2010, with alot of the proposals coming from the public sector and fingers crossed a supermarket, I can see this being built despite the financial crises out there):


"The next landmark in the development process for ReBlackpool was to gain local authority approval to sign the development agreement for Talbot Gateway. This agreement in principle was successfully granted on September 17th when Muse Developments presented their scheme to Blackpool Council Executive Committee.

Following this approval the development agreement will now be signed, which will essentially tie both Blackpool Council and Muse Developments into a legal agreement. This will ensure that the Talbot Gateway scheme will be delivered as planned and works are expected to start on site in 2010."

[Steel City Suburb]

Very good news for blackpool in this thread!

Can we have more pictures of the tram work and sea front works? Also, why is there little greenery on the front? It would look so much better with a few trees and a bit of grass. Even another focus point would be great.

[PaulP]

Took these last weekend...

Poster, showing the project to rebuild the promenade...
















New handrails...

[ferge]

Looks really good quality, that 3rd pic tho.. is there footprints set in the paving, or has someone stood in something they shouldn't? lol..

what a nice prom Blackpool, they just need redo what lies behind it.. like, Blackpool.. (nah, sorry to bear blunt jokes, lol.. but that frontage needs major revamping) then it'd be superb... this is the start of hopefully things to come

[Chorley Boi]

ever heard the saying 'can't polish a terd'?