Blackpool's new £65m university campus plan approved

A computerised image of how the campus, known as University Centre Blackpool, could look

A town centre neighbourhood is set to be demolished after planners gave the green light for a new £65m university campus to be built.

Blackpool Council's planning committee unanimously approved an application for the demolition of an area including 59 homes and an outline application for three buildings on the site.

The campus will be known as University Centre Blackpool.

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

The buildings will be used by Blackpool and the Fylde College in collaboration with Lancaster University.

University staff described the new campus as a "multiversity", due to it having the capacity to teach various disciplines.

Ed Harvey, of real estate company Avison Young, told the committee the area was a "sustainable location" for the development which would "help revitalise this part of town".

The council has been assembling a site on streets between Cookson Street, Milbourne Street, George Street and Grosvenor Street in readiness for the development, and could use compulsory purchase powers if necessary.

George Whyte, of George Street, told the meeting some residents were concerned about losing their homes and said other sites should have been considered instead.

These included land opposite Sainsbury's on Talbot Road or the site of the former Syndicate nightclub on Church Street, which he said would have been "better than tearing down people's homes".

The campus will be built in two phases, with the first phase being a three to five-storey block to be occupied by Blackpool and the Fylde College.

'Beacon of opportunity'

Phase two comprises two buildings which could also be used by the college, or used as office space.

Mr Harvey said: "It's a big step forward for Blackpool's future and an important next step in the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

"The multiversity campus will be a beacon of opportunity for the town, inspiring lifelong learning and encouraging people to upskill."

The council has received £9m from the Town Deal towards assembling the site, and £40m from the government's Levelling Up fund towards the building of the campus.

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