£40m Blackpool court move takes a step forward
Delivery of the £300m Blackpool Central leisure development is dependent on the relocation of the town’s law complex. A consultation on plans for a replacement facility is now underway.
Last year, the Ministry of Justice pledged £40m to relocate the courts from the Blackpool Central site. The new complex is to be built on a 3.7-acre plot on the corner of Devonshire Road and Talbot Road, which once housed a hospital.
The new court building will be three-storeys in height and comprise Magistrates’, civil, and family courts.
The MoJ is working with Mott MacDonald on the plans, which can be viewed via the consultation website.
Subject to planning approval, construction work could begin next year.
An early stage sketch of the new court complex. Credit: via public consultation
Up until recently, the site was used as an ambulance station. Blackpool Council bought the land from Maple Grove Developments in 2020.
MGD, part of Eric Wright Group, had acquired the plot for a little more than £1m from Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust in 2019.
The relocation of the courts will enable Nikal to press ahead with the Blackpool Central regeneration scheme, creating an estimated 1,000 jobs and attracting around 600,000 additional visitors to the resort every year.
As well as indoor theme parks – including a 127,000 sq ft flying theatre – Blackpool Central will feature a 200-bedroom hotel, heritage quarter, and 70,000 sq ft public square on the site of the former train station of the same name.
Work to build a 1,300-space car park as part of the first phase is underway.
Regeneration company Nikal signed a deal in 2018 to deliver a £300m mixed-use scheme for the site. In 2020, the JV signed a 250-year lease on the site.
The relocation of the Courts has been talked about for almost 20 years now. Believe it when I see it.
By Oliver Queen
Under ground carpark?
By Anonymous
Great that were getting a new court building that will enhance the area that is run down. Unfortunately the The theme park, like we need more of this? Will only provide more low paid employment and compound the poverty and social problems of the town. What is needed is the attraction of skilled industry to the town where people can be paid well and want to spend money on the town. It’s not rocket science!!!
By Local lad
this needs underground carparking many major cities are having under ground parking and i think Blackpool would benefit from this in many areas of new development
By Anonymous