Work could begin 'straight away' after £30m new Blackpool hotel gets the go ahead

A proposed £30m hotel on Blackpool Promenade has been given the go-ahead by town hall planners - with developers pledging to start work as soon as possible.

Blackpool Council's planning committee unanimously approved an application by the Singapore-based Fragrance Group for a 143-bedroom hotel on a site between The Promenade, Woodfield Road, St Chad’s Road and Bolton Street.

Alistair Shepherd, representing the Fragrance Group, told the meeting if the scheme was approved work would begin on site straight away.

He said: "This is an important development and we wanted to get the right scheme for Blackpool. The applicant has consulted with local stakeholders."

He added: "Should we receive approval work will start straight away. We're sure it's very disappointing when you have schemes at planning not being built. The applicant is one with a proven track record of building and managing hotels of a very high standard. The developer has already invested in Blackpool  and demonstrated belief in the vision you have got from the council."

The meeting heard there would be a construction management plan in place. Once open, around 40 full-time jobs would be created, and up to 30 part-time jobs at peak season.

Mr Shepherd said: "The site sits mid-way between the Pleasure Beach and the Tower, which is a long stretch so people can come in to eat or have a drink, and I think the landscaped area at the front will be very attractive on the Promenade."

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He added: "The owner of the site has built hotels in other areas of the country similar to this one including on Paignton seafront, and overwhelmingly the businesses there will tell you what a positive impact the hotels have. The scheme will appeal to a wider range of guests including business travellers who are essential to the Blackpool economy."

The Fragrance Group has recently invested around £70m opening a Mercure Hotel and an Ibis Styles Hotel in the Devon town of Paignton.

Hotelier Stewart Norris, owner of the Sutton Park Guesthouse on Woodfield Road, and Ian White, of hoteliers group StayBlackpool, also addressed the meeting with concerns raised about parking as the area was "already busy in high season". But overall they welcomed the application including the proposals for landscaping.

The site currently lies empty after the former St Chad's Hotel, which had stood on the land, was demolished in May 2023 to make way for the new investment.