[Scarlett.]

The new Houndshill, it actually looks similar to what it does look like








The Peoples playground



Cant wait until all this is built

[Lauren]

Last time I was at Blackpool I nearly blew away.

[Scarlett.]

Lol by the wind? or because of how it looks xD

They are also building a HE campus at College

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Chewy
Lol by the wind? or because of how it looks xD

They are also building a HE campus at College

By the wind! LMAO. I literally got lifted off my feet for a millisecond and nearly fell sideways because of it. Granted, I was walking along the coast road bit towards Pleasurebeach - but still!

[Scarlett.]

LMAO xD
Thats nearly happened to me a few times too :P

[andyman]

WOOHOO! Am goin blackpool

[30stone]

At the moment i think ill stick to the oracle and westfield

[lily.]

I love Blackpool... Gotta love the tack! Where else can you buy a tobacco tin with "I like the pope - the pope smokes dope" on it..

[Hugo]

I hate Blackpool

[rayheartbliss]

looks very nicE

[Scarlett.]

THE Ł220M TALBOT Gateway deal has been officially signed, high above the streets of Blackpool.
A new, 25 acres of the resort's town centre will be transformed into a new commercial district under the scheme.

Mike Horner, regional director of Muse Developments joined Blackpool Council leader Coun Peter Callow and chief executive of ReBlackpool Doug Garrett on top of Talbot Road Bus Station to officially sign up to the scheme.

Although primarily a commercial district, the development will also improve the first impressions of the town for visitors arriving from Blackpool North Train Station.

Coun Callow said: "I think this will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the resort.

"At the moment it's not much of a greeting for people coming into Blackpool by train and that's all going to change now and we're going to get the town centre we deserve.

"Blackpool is on the move – it has had a wonderful past and we want it to have a wonderful future."

Overlooking the streets he is about to transform, Mr Horner said: "The chance to make change on this scale comes about very rarely.

"The site in total is about 25 acres and that's a site on which you can create a very big development.

"While the super-casino was based entirely around visitors to Blackpool, this is for the sub-region and the people who live in Blackpool.We will be working with the council and the Northwest Development Agency to develop the plans.

"We all know the economy is not in the best shape at the moment.

Thankfully this project is anchored by some considerable public sector elements which allow it to move forward in these difficult times.

Work on the site will not start until 2011 and it will take at least 10 years to complete.

The first elements to be built will include the civic offices on the site of the Talbot Road Bus Station, a food store on Talbot Road and a pedestrian friendly plaza.

Mr Horner said: "These plans won't come to fruition overnight. There should be several hundred jobs created by the scheme and we will be using local contractors wherever possible."

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said the proposals were a key part of the regeneration strategy put in place after the failed casino bid.

He said: "Government support for this has been critical and it shows the Government is keeping faith with Blackpool's regeneration, particularly in this difficult economic time."

A planning application will be submitted in March, when there will also be a compulsory purchase order made by the council for the remaining properties required by the development.

The Northwest Development Agency has already invested Ł5.1m in site acquisition.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Chewy

A new, 25 acres of the resort's town centre will be transformed into a new commercial district under the scheme.

The first elements to be built will include the civic offices on the site of the Talbot Road Bus Station, a food store on Talbot Road and a pedestrian friendly plaza.

Naturally, new offices for Chief Executive and his cronies first .....

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Omah

Naturally, new offices for Chief Executive and his cronies first .....

Naturally the recession has meant a scaling down of this project, though Blackpool has quite secretly enjoyed a massive boom during this recession, we've still been hit a tiny bit.

The area is still getting a sprucing up though, a new Sainsburys has been approved for next to the North station



and these are the council offices for next door (currently where a rundown nightclub stands)


This is the main enterance to Blackpool now













Here's the climbing towers, which also doubles as the town's sign



and an arial shot

See how the area looked in the early noughties




Before regeneration

The new promenade


The revamped tower/prom


Though its currently under construction, this is the new entrance to Blackpool tower, the back entrance looks similar to this too.


Also the new trams are unofficially running (they're meant to launch in April but are out now lol)

Here's one at a new look tram stop

[Kerry]

Wow, amazing changes I love Blackpool but haven't been for about 10 years

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Miss Elf

Wow, amazing changes I love Blackpool but haven't been for about 10 years

It's quite amazing how much the town has actually changed since 2007 (when I moved here xD)

[Tom]

I love Blackpool, I'm that classy

[Scarlett.]

Here's what the new trams will look like, they will begin running around May time

[Kerry]

Ooooh they've been on a diet

[Scarlett.]

lol I bet they'll still be running the old fashioned ones too xD

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Chewy

lol I bet they'll still be running the old fashioned ones too xD

Possibly. But then Blackpools famed for it's classic trams. I know when ours change they take a while to all become the same. Trouble is, by the time they've all changed, they're onto the next flippin' designs!!

[Scarlett.]

Indeed, though it looks like they're planning to expand the tramline into town

[Kerry]

Looks good. So long since I went to Blackpool

[Scarlett.]

They're starting construction work on that area later this year :] Blackpool looks a lot better than it once did

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Chewy

They're starting construction work on that area later this year :] Blackpool looks a lot better than it once did

I'm a sucker for Blackpool anyway Holds so many fond memories

[Kerry]

I love the seaside