Project update: Post office site remains on track to deliver regeneration

Revised proposals for the site on Abingdon Street – now called the Red Box Quarter – secured planning permission last November.

This includes the removal of the former post office counter and its re-use to form a central kiosk within the main hall on the ground floor.

Marketing of the scheme is due to start and Blackpool-based Thompson Developments , which owns the site, hopes to carry out the work.

But other developers are also said to be interested in taking on the scheme.

The original proposal for a 50-bedroom hotel was shelved in favour of investment in retail.

Other investment opportunities also include a coffee concession in the main counter hall, a restaurant at plaza level and a roof top bar on Edward Street with views over the town and out to sea.Joe Thompson, of Thompson Developments, said: “The computer generated images are a representation of our aspirations for this development and, we now plan to meet with our agents Duxbury’s Commercial to progress the final brochure design before actively marketing the scheme.

“It remains our intention to retain and develop the site ourselves but, this will depend on our continuing workload elsewhere and available resources.

“In the meantime, we are also considering the option of an outright sale having received expressions of interest from various parties.”

The post office, built in 1910, was used until 2007 when the counter service moved to WH Smiths.

New images show how the former counter hall at the post office could look