Developers revive plans for new hotel on Blackpool Prom

An artists impression of a hotel proposed for the corner of the Promenade and Chapel Street.

Planners approved a £10m scheme to demolish buildings on the corner of Chapel Street and the Promenade, opposite Central Pier, in 2014.

But investment has stalled and no development has taken place.

Now the proposals have been resubmitted after the original planning permission expired this month.

The applicant is seeking permission to knock down the block between Chapel Street, Foxhall Road and York Street which is currently used by fancy goods stalls, a fast food outlet and two licensed premises, all on the ground floor.

The first floor is an empty former night club.

There is also some residential property over 123 Central Promenade.

Developers want to build a five-story hotel on the site with 119 bedrooms on the upper floors, and a coffee shop, restaurant and pub on the ground floor.

A report accompanying the application says the move would help to rejuvenate the area.

It says: “The area is significantly run down and investment is needed.

“The proposals would give a much needed lift to the Promenade frontage and hopefully be a catalyst for further development for the remaining blocks between the proposed site and Princess Street.”

The proposed new building, designed by Blackpool-based architect Alan Jones, would be inspired by 1930s architecture.

It includes a rotunda at the north end designed to provide “a pleasant architectural feature when looking south from the Tower.”

The hotel will not have its own car park for guests, but would rely on existing car parks in the area.

When the scheme was originally granted planning permission, it was claimed a number of major hotel chains were interested in the site incuding Hilton.

The site, which is owned by London-based developers, is close to the Central Station area which Blackpool Council is seeking a leisure development for.

Blackpool police station is due to move to new headquarters currently being built on Clifton Road in Marton, and it is also hoped to relocate the law courts. The council is currently signed into an exclusivity agreement with an international operator who is examining the feasibility of investing in the site.