Blackpool handed millions of pounds for two new projects
The £6m is going to be used towards two key regeneration projects in the town
Last updated 18th Nov 2024
Blackpool has millions of pounds to go towards two key new projects
The cash includes a £5m to go towards the ongoing contruction of teh new civil service hub on King Street, and £2m for the Silicon Sands project at Blackpool Airport
The money has come ahead of setting up the new Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA).
Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams said it was a ‘historic moment’ signalling “the start of this new way of working where we will have more control over local decision and the funding that supports those decisions.”
She added: “The projects being funded in Blackpool are of strategic importance to us. The new town centre offices for the DWP will bring over 3,000 workers into the centre of Blackpool.
“Silicon Sands is a forward looking project that will bring new, high quality tech jobs to Blackpool. Starting with a small data centre at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, it will bring a new industry and investment to Blackpool while also tackling the climate emergency at the same time.”
The civil service hub has been funded through council borrowing, with the £4m set to go towards easing some of the borrowing costs. It is due to open next year with the council recouping its investment through a 25 year lease with the DWP.
The £2m for Silicon Sands will be used to clear the remainder of the site at the airport in readiness for a low carbon data centre earmarked for the land, which will take advantage of connectivity provided by undersea Trans-Atlantic fibre cables which come ashore in the town.
Some of the funding will also be used to build a new handling facility for up to 45 passengers at the airport to replace existing facilities. This work needs to be completed to enable the data centre to proceed.