Progress update on Blackpool's new mega 6-storey £45m Ministry of Defence office expected to house 1,100 staff
“The new Ministry of Defence office building is really taking shape.”
The internal fit out is now well underway on the six-storey Ministry of Defence office in Blackpool town centre, with external works set to begin over the coming months.
Construction on the £45 million, 53,000 sq ft government hub next to Blackpool North railway station began in May last year and the building is expected to open in 2027.
Once complete, it will become the new Blackpool base for Defence Business Services (DBS), consolidating its north west operations into a single purpose-built office and accommodating up to 1,100 staff.
“The new Ministry of Defence office building is really taking shape,” a Blackpool Council statement on social media read. “The precast concrete façade panels have been installed to the outside of the building. Take a look at the transformation in our before and after photos!
“Not only do they look great, but they also have a lower environmental impact during manufacturing and construction. The internal fit out is now well underway on the six-storey building, with external works starting to take place over the coming months.
“The MOD’s move into the heart of Blackpool is a key part of the wider £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration, bringing more people into the town centre to increase footfall for local businesses and boost the local economy.”
£350m
The relocation forms a key part of the wider £350 million-plus Talbot Gateway regeneration project, which aims to transform the area around the railway station into a modern commercial, education and transport hub.
Led by Blackpool Council and Muse, and delivered by VINCI Building, the scheme is designed to create jobs, attract thousands of workers and students, and boost the local economy by increasing footfall for town centre businesses.
All the latest news and top stories from across Blackpool and the Fylde coast directly to your phone.
Never miss a thing. Click here to join
Talbot Gateway is redeveloping around 20 acres surrounding Blackpool North station and is expected to bring more than 8,000 workers and students into the town centre.
Completed developments include the 144-bedroom Holiday Inn Blackpool, Blackpool Council's Number One Bickerstaffe Square headquarters, and a new Sainsbury's supermarket with multi-storey parking, public spaces and a tramway interchange.
Other major projects include the £100 million Department for Work and Pensions regional office, completed in 2025, and the £65 million carbon-neutral Multiversity campus for Blackpool and The Fylde College, which is due to open in 2028.