Plans for brand new pregnancy ultrasound facility earmarked for Spen Business in Blackpool
“The proposed clinic is complementary to, and does not replace, NHS maternity care. “
Plans are being proposed for a new private pregnancy ultrasound and associated healthcare clinic to serve Blackpool.
The proposals are being put forward by Bump of Blackpool Ltd, an established operator with clinics in Preston and Southport which is now seeking to expand into Blackpool.
Bump says it responding to an already existing client base from the Blackpool and Fylde coast area.
A planning application has been lodged with Blackpool Council, by Jack Ball (Atlas Project Solutions Ltd), on behalf of Bump.
It seeks planning permission for Units 1 and 2 at Spen Business Park, off Ashworth Road in Mereside, to be used by Bump of Blackpool Ltd as a private pregnancy ultrasound and associated healthcare clinic, considered to fall within Use Class E(e).
A pregnancy ultrasound facility uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time, radiation-free images of a foetus and the surrounding pelvic structures.
These scans need to be performed by trained healthcare professionals known as sonographers and serve functions such as checking heartbeat, verifying the pregnancy is located in the uterus, ruling out ectopic pregnancy and calculating the estimated due date.
What statement says
A Planning Statement on behalf of the applicants, says the clinic would provide role for qualified sonographers, other healthcare workers, reception jobs and cleaning roles.
The Statement said: “The proposed clinic is complementary to, and does not replace, NHS maternity care. Clients are advised that private ultrasound appointments do not replace routine NHS scans, antenatal appointments or statutory maternity services.
“Blackpool has a substantial maternity population. Blackpool’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment records 1,391live births in 2025.
“Bump operates clinical governance procedures and onward pathways where further clinical assessment is required. Where a scan identifies a concern, or expected reassurance cannot be provided, clients can be directed towards appropriate NHS maternity or Early Pregnancy Assessment services in accordance with established procedures.”
It adds: “The proposed Bump clinic would represent productive commercial occupation rather than abandonment or residential loss of the premises.
“It would bring an established employer, professional jobs, private investment and an existing customer base into Blackpool.
“It also demonstrates why the circumstances of these particular units merit careful consideration: the evolved commercial character of the park, the low-impact nature of the proposed operation, the suitability of the premises for a sensitive appointment-led service and the economic and social benefits of the investment.
“For these reasons, and subject to the supporting evidence, the applicants respectfully request that Blackpool Council grant planning permission for the proposed.”