Plan revealed for new multi storey car park in Blackpool town centre

Councillors have given the go ahead to prepare land on Church Street for redevelopment of a car park with 700 spaces, or 600 if a food store is provided on the ground floor.

The council already owns 75 per cent of the site, which was previously the site of the former Syndicate nightclub.

Since the club was demolished, the land has been used as a surface car park and more recently as a temporary location for the King Street Dental Surgery.

On Monday (February 27), the council’s executive agreed recommendations including to open talks with a potential developer, and continue to acquire property needed for the scheme.

The recommendations were part of the council’s updated town centre car parking strategy presented to the committee.

A town hall report says Blackpool has lost a number of car parking spaces due to developments including the Holiday Inn hotel and the second phase of the Houndshill Shopping Centre.

But investments such as the new civil service hub in King Street and the Winter Gardens Conference Centre means more parking is needed.

There are currently 3,693 spaces in and round the town centre, which is down from 4,173 in 2019.

A 1,306 space car park is currently being constructed at the Blackpool Central leisure site and is due to open in November.

The report adds pressure on parking “will only increase this year as the other developments, now underway, come into use and create additional car park demand.”

It also reveals there are proposals to bring forward the old Apollo store site on Talbot Road for development which would also need parking provision.

The report says: “With the recent loss of parking provision and increasing demand in the town centre, the need to procure new parking provision in pursuit of Blackpool Council’s corporate, planning, transport and growth objectives is becoming pressing.”

It warns action “is now needed to support the growth and regeneration of this area with its attendant benefits to residents, businesses and visitors.”