The Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone masterplan has been updated

The project – which has so far brought around 1,500 jobs to the town – will see just over £19m invested in new sports facilities, property acquisition, roads and utilities between now and March 2022.

But the total cost will be around £72.6m to complete all the phases up to 2041.

It is also hoped to relocate the airport control tower to release development land for new data centres.

These are expected to take advantage of fast internet connections provided by the connection of the Aquacomms communication loop, which crosses the Atlantic Ocean from New York, to the enterprise zone.

Funding includes money borrowed by Blackpool Council and an anticipated £7.5m from the government’s Town Deal.

A report to the council’s executive, which meets on Monday, says the main focus over the coming four to five years will include investment in sports facilities, a new junction on Common Edge Road, more than 250,000 sq ft of commercial development and construction of up to 54 homes.

Twelve new football pitches and changing rooms are due to be in place by September 2021, but plans for an indoor sports facility including a tennis centre have been ditched due to being unviable.

The proposed relocation of AFC Blackpool has also been dropped as redeveloping the site would have an adverse impact on neighbouring residential property.

The Eastern Gateway access road to the enterprise zone will now comprise a traffic light junction to the north of South Shore Cricket and Squash Club, rather than the originally proposed roundabout to the south of the club.

The revised masterplan also includes releasing airport land for redevelopment through measures including relocating the control tower to the south side of the runway outside the enterprise zone boundary.

Land released north of the existing control tower will be targeted at the data industries.

Airport investment is proposed in new maintenance hangars for larger aircraft, executive and general aviation terminals and the offshore helicopter terminal.

Existing taxiways will be upgraded and new aircraft parking ramps provided.

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