Blackpool Council made an application to the Environment Agency for £11m for additional works to the sea defences in Anchorsholme to address beach lowering.

Funding for the original Anchorsholme Coast Protection scheme was approved in 2013, during construction there was a requirement for additional works to the headland area and further approval was given by the Environment Agency in 2016 for these works.

Following a storm in 2017, a defect was identified which the contractor agreed to address, at their expense, by providing rock armour along the revetment wall. Over the last two years, exploratory works have been carried out to inform the outline business case for coast protection and beach management along the coastline. These investigations have identified accelerated beach lowering in Anchorsholme. In order to retain the beach and sand, it is proposed that groynes are installed during the construction period for the rock armour works to the revetment wall.

The groynes will act as headlands to trap and retain natural onshore supply of sand. They will also stabilise and retain upper beach at toe of revetment as well as the immediate foreshore area.

Cllr Jane Hugo, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said:

The Environment Agency has allocated £61 million to replace and upgrade coastal defences in the north of the town. £57 million has been allocated to a beach management scheme between Cocker Square and South Pier. This will address beach levels, ensuring that the life of the sea defences in that area are prolonged.

Andrew Shore, Environment Agency Area Coastal Engineer for Cumbria and Lancashire, said:

These projects will reduce the risk of coastal flooding for over 10,000 households.

Keegan Heneghan, Myles Richard and Owen Brown have all found work helping build the new road at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

All three are completing their apprenticeships on the scheme with the main contractor George Cox & Sons, spending four days a week working as groundworkers, while also completing their NVQ Level 2s in Groundwork with Preston College.

Once open later next year, the new road will connect Common Edge Road with Blackpool Business Park on Amy Johnson Way, as well as widening Common Edge Road and improving the junction at School Road.

Keegan, 20, who lives in the town centre, has recently completed his training and continues to work on site with tasks such as kerbing, flagging, drainage, block paving and tarmacking, while Owen, 20, from Mereside, is enjoying working with different people and on a varied job.

For Myles, 19, he’s moving from Cleveleys to Mereside to be closer to work and says this is the start of a career in civil engineering.

The 63-year old former HGV driver was looking for a new job in construction when work started to build a new IMAX cinema round the corner from his house in Blackpool town centre.

With the support of Blackpool Council’s Positive Steps employment service and main building contractor GRAHAM, he soon found work as a traffic marshall for construction vehicles at the new cinema on Coronation Street, helping manage deliveries on and off the site.

Jeff was one of seven local people directly employed on the building of The Backlot Cinema and Diner, which opened in March. A recent report by main contractors GRAHAM, showed that construction created £6m of social value locally, in local employment, working with local sub-contractors and supporting apprenticeship opportunities.

The multi-screen cinema is an extension to Houndshill Shopping Centre, and boasts Lancashire’s only IMAX® screen and one of the largest in the North West, as well as a 100 seater American themed diner.

For Jeff, the experience learnt on site allowed him to find new work after the cinema was completed, and he now works for VINCI Building at their IHP (the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine) construction site at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, for Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.

Jeff said:

The proposed 20MVA solar farm would allow the airport to generate its own renewable electricity, reducing energy bills and its carbon footprint, while also enabling Blackpool Council to reduce its overall net electricity consumption by up to 75%.

Additional renewable energy would also support plans for Silicon Sands, a high-performance data centre campus north of the current airfield.

Silicon Sands aims to create a series of renewably powered data centres to create quality jobs on the Fylde coast. The development would also aim to promote carbon friendly data centre practice, through use of liquid immersion cooling and reusing the waste energy in a district heat.

The power generated from the solar farm will also help equip Blackpool Airport to support the next generation of sustainable hybrid/electric battery powered aircraft.

A screening application for the solar farm has been submitted to Fylde Council, which if approved could lead to it being operational by the latter end of the decade.

If approved, the solar farm would also support Blackpool Airport’s plans to reduce its energy bills and make best use of unused and areas of land which are expensive to maintain. This would mean the closure of the smaller 13/31 crosswind runway. Currently runway 13/31 costs significantly more money to maintain than it generates in aeronautical and commercial revenue, with only 4% of flights using the runway in 2023, while an emerging masterplan for building new hangars and aviation facilities closer to the runway would also mean it closing in future years.

A buffer zone of trees and landscaping would be designed around the southern edge of the solar farm where it meets properties around Leach Lane in Lytham St Annes.

Blackpool Airport is wholly owned by Blackpool Council, which purchased it in 2017, while the land sits within Fylde Council’s boundary for planning purposes.

The screening opinion submission to Fylde Council is the first stage of the planning process to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed and residents on Leach Lane will be invited to see the plans in more detail in the coming weeks.

Planning support on the solar farm has been provided by the Enterprise Zone consultants Cassidy + Ashton, along with feasibility studies from Horizon Power and Energy.

More information on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and Silicon Sands

The hotel’s success represents a significant step forward in Blackpool’s ongoing regeneration efforts. Since opening, the hotel has made a significant contribution to local employment, with 98% of the team coming from the Blackpool area following a successful recruitment drive earlier in the year, where the hotel received 3,068 job applications.

The Holiday Inn Blackpool, managed by RBH Hospitality Management, is Blackpool Council owned and part of the wider regeneration project, Talbot Gateway, developed in partnership with by Muse Places.

Since opening the 144-bedroom hotel, which is operated by RBH Hospitality Management, Holiday Inn, it has become the best rated by guests as the best Holiday Inn in UK & Ireland out of 219 hotels.

The Holiday Inn Blackpool will continue to build on its strong start, providing four-star hospitality to its residents, while supporting the local economy and contributing to the ongoing success of the Talbot Gateway project.

Speaking on the successful hotel launch, General Manager, Mark Winter, said:

The development is conveniently placed off the side of Blackpool North train station, offering a central hub for both business and leisure guests arriving in Blackpool.

The hotel sits above an improved underpass connecting passengers from Blackpool North train station with a new tram stop and extension connecting to the Blackpool tramway along the Promenade. Since opening in June 2024, over 80,000 trips have started or ended at the new tram stop.

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council, added:

The wider £350m Talbot Gateway programme is regenerating Blackpool town centre, by bringing 8,000 professional workers and students to the area in the coming years. Blackpool Council, alongside Muse, has already developed the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy.

The third phase of the Talbot Gateway regeneration includes a new seven storey, 215,000 sq ft sustainable office building which will bring over 3,000 civil service workers into the area when it opens in 2025, while land is currently being acquired ahead of phase four, a new £65m Multiversity educational campus which will also attract up to 3,000 more staff and students to the area.

Elsewhere, full planning permission is being sought by Muse and Blackpool Council for a new £45 million, 52,950 sq ft office off Talbot Road which would be home to over 1,000 employees, while plans for a new multi-storey car park are expected to be submitted later this summer.

The development has transformed two previously vacant sites and integrated them into the wider Grange Park estate.

The project in total has delivered 96 houses, seven bungalows and 30 sheltered apartments along with enhanced open spaces, a children’s playground, improved pedestrian and cycle access, as well as significant social value benefits.

The new homes have been funded partially by a grant from Homes England and are managed by Blackpool Coastal Housing who manage around 5,000 properties on Blackpool Council’s behalf. Funding from the European Regional Development Fund has also supported the installation of air source heat pumps in 30 of the properties which offer an energy efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating systems, significantly reducing carbon emissions and energy costs. In addition, all houses are fitted with solar panels and battery to decrease the community’s carbon footprint and support eco-friendly living and development.

Timeline of events

• September 2021 – Planning permission granted
• November 2021 – RP Tyson Construction awarded contract
• December 2021 – Site clearance began
• May 2022 – First foundation laid
• June 2023 – First 17 properties handed over
• April 2024 – Playground opens
• August 2024 – Final properties handed over

Local firm RP Tyson Construction was appointed as the principal contractor for the development. As part of Blackpool’s Council procurement process it sets out a requirement for social value contributions.

RP Tyson Construction has delivered multiple additional community benefits from job opportunities through subcontractor apprenticeships, helping local unemployed people gain skills, alongside the creation of new jobs for people who were previously unemployed. A total of 13 apprentices were recruited and retained.

Local school children have gained insight into careers. The company has hosted many learning skills events and work place experiences for school pupils across the town including a bricklaying site visit for the Boathouse Youth Centre, a construction day for the Christ the King School and work placements for St Mary’s Academy in their joinery workshop.

The company also set up a fund to support community groups and activities within the estate. RP Tyson has contributed £15,800 of funds to local community groups. Examples included support for the Hope Community Church craft evenings, installation of a secure bicycle shelter at The Boathouse Youth Centre and funding for renovating a camping trailer for the 4^th Blackpool Scout Group.

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Levelling Up – Place with responsibilities for Strategic Housing, said:

Jeremy Whittle, the Managing Director of Tyson Construction, said:

Project management of the scheme was delivered on behalf of the council by Blackpool Housing Company.

Cassidy + Ashton architects were lead designers, developing the designs following conversations with the local community, Boundary Primary School, @theGrange and local stakeholders.

Apply for social housing properties in Blackpool.