Progress update on huge St Annes town centre transformation amid £3.13m redevelopment plans

Work is continuing on a major transformation of St Annes town centre, with the latest progress revealed on a series of improvement projects designed to enhance the area's public spaces and attract more visitors.

Fylde Council has provided an update on the Pier Link and Garden Street scheme, confirming that York Stone paving has now been installed on the corner of Clifton Drive and Braxfield Court, while Kellen paving has been laid outside the Town Hall opposite the pier.

Preparations are also underway to reopen the original pedestrian crossing leading to the Pier Garden Street area, with granite kerbs now installed to define the pavement edge and loading bays. Meanwhile, tarmac foundations have been laid to allow Kellen paving works to continue from St Annes Road West onto Garden Street.

As part of the next stage of the project, Lancashire County Council has confirmed that resurfacing works on St Annes Road West and Garden Street began on Monday, August 3, and are expected to take around eight days. The work is being carried out overnight to minimise disruption.

The update comes as the council celebrates the first anniversary of the £3.13 million redevelopment of St Annes Square, which was officially unveiled during the town's 150th anniversary celebrations in August 2025.

The authority said the investment has already had a positive impact, with more than 277,000 people visiting the square during August 2025—an increase of eight per cent compared with the previous year and higher than pre-pandemic visitor numbers. One year on, the square has become a focal point for the town, with further improvements still planned.

Elsewhere, Orchard Road is set to undergo a 10 to 12-week programme of essential repair and safety works as part of the wider St Annes Improvement Projects.

The scheme, which also began on Monday, August 3, will see uneven and slumped paving lifted and relaid, repairs carried out to planters and landscaping features, and block paving between properties and planters reinstated.

During the works, on-street parking will be restricted and temporary traffic management will be in place. However, businesses and properties on Orchard Road will remain fully accessible throughout the project, with no full road closures planned.

The council is encouraging visitors to continue supporting local businesses during the works, with alternative parking available at St Annes Square, Wood Street, the Town Hall at weekends and North Promenade car parks.

Alongside the infrastructure improvements, a packed programme of events is also planned for the town over the coming weeks. The St Annes on the Sea Music Festival returns from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31, offering three days of free live music in Ashton Gardens.

The annual St Annes Kite Festival will follow from Friday, September 4 to Sunday, September 6, with a colourful new art trail featuring hand-painted kite designs displayed in the windows of 15 town centre businesses. Families will be invited to search for a hidden phrase for the chance to win a prize.

Other events taking place this summer include the Sounds in the Square performances throughout August, the monthly St Annes Farmers Market and the St Annes Artisan Market, as the town continues its programme of improvements and events aimed at boosting footfall and supporting local businesses.