Multiversity plans take another step forward

The campus will be known as University Centre Blackpool

Plans for a multiversity have taken another step forward with a contractor now appointed to the £65m university campus project.

Blackpool Council has appointed London-based Morgan Sindall Construction to carry out the works.

The company has a track record in the education sector having worked on projects for Salford University, Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The campus - known as a multiversity due to it having the capacity to teach various disciplines - will be known as University Centre Blackpool.

'Supporting local labour'

It will form part of the £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration of the area.

Alun Francis, principal and chief executive at Blackpool and the Fylde College, said the appointment was a "critical milestone in the delivery of the Multiversity".

Councillor Mark Smith, cabinet member for levelling up at Blackpool Council, added: “For a development of this size, we needed a large construction company with a track record in delivering quality education campuses.

“As we have done with other major developments, we will also be ensuring a real commitment to social value, such as hiring local companies where possible, supporting local labour, and encouraging training and apprenticeship opportunities for Blackpool locals.”

The multiversity, due to be built on land between Cookson Street, Milbourne Street, George Street and Grosvenor Street, is set to offer 70 courses.

Proposed development would start with an education campus on the corner of Cookson Street and George Street, with further development across the southern end of the site by Milbourne Street and Grosvenor Street.

Outline planning approval was granted in April with a reserved matters application to follow this summer.

More than 60% of the site has already been bought by the council, which received £9m from the Town Deal towards site assembly.

Another £40m has come from the previous government’s Levelling Up fund towards construction, with the remaining £16m borrowed by the council, which will be repaid by the college.