Plant hire firms in the north-west were rejoicing this week as work began on the much-anticipated Talbot Gateway Central Business District scheme, which is set to transform commercial and retail letting opportunities in Blackpool. The project got underway with a ceremonial groundbreaking witnessed by Blackpool Council and its partner Muse Developments, which will be responsible for delivering the new build.
The blueprints for the Talbot Gateway project include new hotels, shops and restaurants in addition to new offices, cafes to cater for the lunchtime rush and a supermarket. When the project was first announced, the chairman of the local regeneration body, Sir Howard Bernstein, promised it would “transform a neglected and under-utilised area of the town into a welcoming family-friendly gateway, encouraging more people to visit, providing better services for local people and encouraging inward investment.”
Eric Wright Construction will take a lead role in the £220m project and John Wilson, the firm’s managing director, broke first ground at the site together with Mike Horner, regional director at Muse Developments, and Councillor Gary Coleman, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development.
Speaking to build.co.uk, Councillor Coleman said: “We estimate that 400 people will be working on the construction of the Talbot Gateway. It’s a great boost for the economy of the town centre as well as creating local jobs for local people.”
