Here's some of the projects set to help kickstart Blackpool's economy

This week Blackpool Council announced contractors would be on site from Monday (June 1) to begin demolition of the Wilko's building on Talbot Road to make way for completion of the tramway extension and a new hotel.Read more Blackpool Wilko demolition to start - paving way for next phase of regenerationOther key investment projects include the £25m Winter Gardens conference centre and the Sands Hotel on Central Promenade.

Michael Williams, managing director of the Winter Gardens, said: "I can confirm that, as with all major building projects, work was temporarily suspended due to the restrictions as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

"However, the contractors have now implemented social distancing and safe working practices and procedures to allow them to recommence work on the conference and exhibition centre.

"The next stage is to complete the external wall cladding and to undertake the installation of the internal walls and partitioning.

"Once the building is water tight the internal works then will begin at a pace and it’s great to see the glazing is now in place."

The 91-room Sands Resort Hotel is now expected not to be open for customers until next summer instead of this year due to delays caused by lockdown.

But most of the glazing has been fitted and the building, which will also accommodate Blackpool's Showtown museum, is taking shape.

Another project, to build a £7m Club 3000 Bingo complex at Festival Leisure Park on Rigby Road, is also progressing with framework now in place.

A spokesperson for the developer said they could not currently give an update on the project which had originally been scheduled to open this summer.

Some framework for the £7.6m EasyHotel on the Promenade in South Shore is also now up, while the £7.1m Premier Inn in Talbot Square, which should have opened in April, remains shrouded in scaffolding but looks close to completion.

The demolition of Wilko's is expected to be completed by December with work to build the Holiday Inn hotel due to start in October and be completed by April 2022.

Completion of the tramway extension is expected between January and May next year.

Blackpool council leader Coun Simon Blackburn has hailed the progress of key construction projects as vital to the economic recovery of the resort following lockdown.

He said this would "ensure the town is in the best possible place it can be to achieve economic recovery, improve long term resilience, create new opportunities and secure long-term jobs for the people of Blackpool".