£1.3m pledge towards second state-of-the-art new office block in town centre as part of the multi million pound Talbot Gateway

Following successful negotiations with the interested party, Blackpool Council has agreed to the spending to fund designs for the offices which would be built as part of the next phase of the multi-million pound Talbot Gateway.

Town hall chiefs are keeping the name of the potential occupant under wraps, but say the success of other regeneration including the construction of a £100m Civil Service hub currently underway, has prompted the interest.

Initial funding of £775,000 had been agreed, but now funding of up to £1,345,000 (which the council says will be reimbursed) has been agreed.

A report says following the success of the first phases of the Talbot Gatway, “the council is looking to bring forward more office-based developments to increase footfall in the town centre and support the town’s economic growth.”

It adds: “This will be achieved through either relocation or inward investment into the town centre as part of the Talbot Gateway Masterplan.

“This future phase of the Talbot Gateway will accommodate a significant office development and it is vital that the opportunity is not lost.

“The priority for the Talbot Gateway is to secure more high-quality jobs not only to expand and drive footfall into the town centre (with the knock-on effects of encouraging the upgrading of the town centre retail and restaurant facilities) but also to secure and increase job opportunities for local residents.”

The council and its development partner Muse Developments have been negotiating with the interested party which is expected to buy a long-term lease of the land required.

Land near North Station has previously been allocated for further development as part of the Talbot Gateway, although the council has not revealed the exact site of the potential office block.

If it goes ahead, it would be around a third smaller than the Civil Service offices being built on King Street which will provide space for around 1,000 workers.

It would be ‘Grade A’ office accommodation, which is sought after by organisations seeking state-of-the-art facilities which is why new build accommodation is required.