Fylde coast firms hired to help create plan for Blackpool's 'Mulitversity' in town centre

Blackpool Council and Blackpool and The Fylde College have chosen Blackpool-based Joseph Boniface Architects Ltd and Freckleton-based Chartered Building Consultancy Leeming Associates work on the plans for a new “Multiversity” campus earmarked to be part of Phase four of the Talbot Gateway development.

The plan aims to offer a cutting-edge response to local, regional and national educational priorities through a high quality, technical and professional curriculum, co-created with local employers and in partnership with Lancaster University.

The two companies, will support the project lead, Manchester-based Hawkins\Brown. CBRE and Amion will also provide support for the project.

The plan is to relocate the existing Park Road campus into the town centre and support the town’s wider regeneration strategy. The project has been allocated up to £10m as part of Blackpool’s Town Deal which will be used to develop the business case including the other sources of funding.

The Multiversity aims to provide high value employment and support regional businesses in upskilling their workforces through high quality technical and professional training and education.

The project team will develop a detailed masterplan for the campus.

Katie Tonkinson, partner at Hawkins\Brown said: “We knew from our previous working collaborations and our expertise within the field of higher and further education, we had a very strong team of experts that we were keen to bring together who can really deliver something special on this ambitious scheme. Investing in local expertise was the right thing to do for this project.”

Joseph Boniface, director of Joseph Boniface Architects Ltd said, “As well as being a former employee of Hawkins\Brown, I have collaborated with the other consortium members on a number of projects in the past and we work well together, so I’m delighted to be part of the team.

"Being based locally in Blackpool will be key to the speed and agility of the project, assisting with the analysis of the area, site investigations and developing the project design.”

James Alderson, managing director of Leeming Associates has been for more a decade principal surveyor for strong links with Blackpool and The Fylde College.

He said, “The existing town centre campus has several challenges, it’s perceived as too far out of town by students, is land locked where expansion and redevelopment aren’t viable.

“Delivering a state-of-the-art purpose built campus in the town centre will future proof higher education and learning on Fylde Coast for many years to come and the potential to deliver something of this calibre for Blackpool is extremely exciting.”

Ian Barker, special projects manager for Blackpool and The Fylde College, “The benefits of a university campus in a town centre location will create a new interaction between students and businesses, encouraging new life and vitality, a year round vibrant economy and new spending habits through events and activities in and around the campus.

"The Multiversity will importantly help and support over 1,000 new additional learners on the Fylde Coast.”

Coun Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Business Enterprise and Job Creation said, “A Multiversity campus in central Blackpool will be a real game changer for the town.

"The project has fantastic potential to boost the local economy, investing in the future of both the town and the lifelong education of our residents.”

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