Ringing the changes
In 2005 the Urban Regeneration Company, ReBlackpool, was born and with it came a multi-million pound regeneration programme set to change Blackpool’s coastline forever.
Its remit was to ensure long term economic and social prosperity for the town, alongside ongoing plans to build commercial opportunities to enhance year round trade and employment.
On April 1, 2010, ReBlackpool will be wound up as we know it, and it will be replaced by the Fylde Coast Economic Development Company (EDC).
The overall aim of the company is to accelerate the economic development of the Fylde Coast as described in the Multi Area Agreement signed by the four local authorities of Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and Lancashire County Council together with the North West Regional Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency.
The final act of ReBlackpool was to deliver the Tower and Winter Gardens investment after a strategic review carried out on their behalf.
Since 2005 ReBlackpool has made a remarkable difference to the UK’s most famous coastline. Here’s a recap of some of the completed and planned projects so far.
Southern Gateway, a £4.4 million development close to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The first modernised section of the sea front received a positive reaction from residents, visitors and neighbouring businesses.
Spanish Steps have been built at every access point to the beach, offering protective as well as decorative responsibilities. The careful selection of materials and management of their remarkable design and construction means that ReBlackpool estimate that the new defences will have a design life of at least 100 years.
The Tower Festival Headland, a £14.3 million development taking shape at the foot of the 158 metre tower. One of five headland projects using land reclaimed from the sea, the Tower Festival Headland will provide Blackpool with its only purpose-built, outdoor entertainment venue, capable of accommodating 20,000 people. Plans to create a Comedy Carpet are also under way. This will be an inspiring piece of public art to be incorporated into the Tower Festival Headland site, designed by Gordon Young and Why Not Associates. The pavement design will feature famous catchphrases delivered by the comedy performers that have helped to make Blackpool famous.
The seafront Wedding Chapel is a £2.7 million project to be built on the Tower Headland. The venue should be ready to host its first wedding in spring 2011 and will boast a rooftop terrace, a wedding tower with picture windows and a restaurant.
St Chads and Waterloo with an estimated £6.5 million pounds, the final two headlands will be transformed and become home to an ocean side skateboard park and BMX bowl and a huge adventure playground.
Talbot Gateway is a £220 million project that will provide over 330,000 sq ft of office and business space including new Council offices, complemented by a 90,000 sq ft food superstore, four hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants. Residential units and a new doctor s surgery are also planned as part of the scheme.
A new photo blog – featuring exclusive, never-before-seen images - has recently been launched to help illustrate the changes which have taken place in the town over the past decade.
The blog, ‘A Changing Blackpool’, can be accessed at http://blog.reblackpool. com/ and has been set up by ReBlackpool - as one of its last actions before closing on March 31. Its functions are set to continue under the new Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Development Company (EDC).
Supporting the blog will be a Twitter feed, Facebook Group and Google Map showing where the photographs were taken. ReBlackpool will also be launching a Flickr group which will build into an online library of images showing the changes taking place in the town.
Doug Garrett, Chief Executive of ReBlackpool said: “Regeneration in Blackpool has changed the face of the town significantly over the past decade. The changes have brought some excellent new facilities and impressive public spaces have been created.
“The new blog is a fantastic way of showing the changes and, by viewing the before and after pictures, they prove just how far we’ve come. It’s a great way for residents to reflect on their history whilst looking forward to a brighter future, and it acts as a platform to demonstrate to outside investors how great a potential Blackpool has.
“We’ve still got a long way to go, but the photographs on the blog clearly show the big difference the regeneration effort is making, and I’m confident the EDC will continue to deliver and build on the work started by ReBlackpool.
