Business boost as police look local with HQ

An artist's impression of Blackpool's new police headquarters

Hundreds of jobs are set to be created during the building work at the site of the former Progress House site on Clifton Road.

A ‘meet the buyer’ event on February 10 will give local firms the chance to find out more about getting involved.

The new station, which will replace the outdated Bonny Street HQ from 2018, will provide a base for neighbourhood teams, immediate response officers. The building, which will be the West Division headquarters, will also include 42 custody cells and save the force £180,000 a year in running costs.

Insp Chris Hardy said: “We are keen to give local businesses and suppliers the opportunity to bid for the work and we also hope to see apprenticeship opportunities offered to young people.

The development will be funded by the police and crime commissioner, Clive Grunshaw.

He said: “It’s really important that, where we have investment like this, the local business community feel the benefit. The college is also supporting us with an apprenticeship programme.”

The tendering process is due to start in March 2016.

The event will take place at Build Up, on Kincraig Road, Bispham. To register, call Nicola Tyson-Lightfoot on 0161 947 3960 or email [email protected]