Conference Centre:

The Government has thrown Blackpool a lifeline in providing taxpayers' money towards new conference facilities, but there is no firm cash pledge. It's estimated a new convention centre would cost around £100m.

The report says: "The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) will respond constructively to a costed business plan from ReBlackpool (the town's regeneration company) for investment in improved conference facilities."

It adds the plan needs to be "realistic" and "persuasive."

Transport:

There were celebrations at the beginning of this month when the Government finally gave Blackpool £60m towards the much-needed upgrade of its ageing tramway, which without the cash was threatened with closure.

Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council must contribute £12.5m each to the total cost of £85m.

The line will be completely refurbished, a fleet of new super-trams will be introduced and the depot rebuilt.

Meanwhile, the Government has pledged to ease traffic problems on the A585 – the main link between much of Blackpool and Wyre to the motorway network.

The report said: "The A585 is a bottleneck (which hampers) further regeneration and a potential artery to bring in new jobs and growth."

Sea Defences:

Funding through Defra for new sea defences was confirmed in 2005 and the ambitious project to create six new headlands is now well under way.

The Government is investing £78m in total with a further £7m from the NWDA. A bid for Lottery cash for the People's Playground failed, but the report is optimistic a new funding package is possible through the NWDA.

It says: "It will be important the private sector can contribute and that others with a potential interest can remain involved."

Housing:

Within the Housing Intervention Strategy, English Partnerships is set to invest up to £35m over three years, focusing on three areas – South Beach, North Beach and the Blackpool and the Fylde College site which has been earmarked as potential acquisition land.

In South Beach, the aim is to regenerate the area to complement the seafront and regenerate rundown areas of guesthouses to create mixed use neighbourhoods.

It is hoped this will help tackle the issue of non-viable and failing B&Bs and stem the flow of poor quality houses of multiple occupation. An affordable housing element will also be delivered through the Housing Corporation.

Schools:

Blackpool's bid for £140m through the Building Schools for the Future initiative is already well advanced and will see funding come on stream over a 10-year period.

The massive input of cash will see the rebuilding and updating of all eight of the resort's high schools, many of which pre-date the 1960s.

Further and Higher Education:

Blackpool and The Fylde College has made no secret of its ambitions to offer more university-standard courses.

Plans to upgrade the Palatine campus have already been unveiled, but there are further hopes of creating a town centre campus which would see the relocation of some parts of the college.

This move is also seen as crucial to helping regenerate the town centre and the Second Gateway site, between Central Drive and the Promenade, has been mooted as a possible new home for the college.

Airport:

Blackpool International Airport is seen as key to economic growth and the NWDA has agreed to invest £2.5m in further development of the hub, to be matched by the airport's owners MAR Properties Ltd.

The 2003 Future of Air Transport White Paper concluded the airport should be capable of developing additional capacity to cope with anticipated growth in flights and a new terminal building is already planned.

National Theatre Museum:

A £50,000 feasibility study, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is already considering Blackpool's bid for the new Victoria and Albert National Theatre Museum but the next stage will be for the museum's own board to consider whether to proceed.

If they do, further discussions will be held between the council, the museum and the NWDA to identify and agree funding. This could mean converting an existing building or delivering a brand new attraction.

World Heritage Status:

Blackpool's bid for World Heritage Site status is being treated seriously by Government and has promised to provide advice to Blackpool.

However, the resort will not be able to apply until after 2010 because the UK has already announced its nominations up until then.