Plans for £65m multiversity approved unanimously

The new multiversity will be known as University Centre Blackpool

Detailed plans for Blackpool's £65m multiversity have been given the final green light by councillors.

A new public plaza, landscaped with trees, will be part of the new state-of-the-art education campus, which will be known as University Centre Blackpool (UCB).

Members of Blackpool Council's planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the major town-centre development.

The multiversity, which will be part of Blackpool and The Fylde College, will cater for 3,500 students and staff. It is due to open in September 2027.

'Boost social mobility'

Multiversities are so named because they have the capacity to teach many different disciplines.

The only potential remaining change to the UCB plans could be to enlarge a canopy, which would make the multiversity's main entrance more prominent.

It would also reflect the architecture of the new Department for Work and Pensions hub on nearby King Street, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Planning committee chairman Councillor Dave Flanagan said the "very exciting" project will "boost social mobility" for youngsters in the town.

"We know too many of our young people in Blackpool face barriers to good education and jobs," he explained.

"So hopefully the multiversity will tackle this by bringing quality education to the heart of our community, making it accessible to everyone regardless of background."

The public plaza linking the multiversity and the council offices at Bickerstaffe House will result in the closure of George Street to traffic, while Charles Street will be used for parking.

A second phase of the multiversity project, which already has outline planning permission, would allow its future expansion or the creation of office space for the Talbot Gateway.

In the short term, though, and until more funding is secured, the land will be used as a temporary car park.