Blackpool Town Centre Strategy March 2013 This Version Published March 2013 by Blackpool Council
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Blackpool Town Centre Strategy March 2013 This version Published March 2013 by Blackpool Council. © 2013 Blackpool Council. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, copied or transmitted without the prior written consent of the publisher except that the material may be photocopied for non-commercial purposes without permission from the publisher. Printed by Blackpool Council on recycled paper. Visit Blackpool Council at http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/ Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Contents Introduction The need for a Town Centre Strategy 2 Vision & Objectives 4 Wider Town Centre Policy Context 6 Town Centre Map 8 Blackpool Town Centre Today Catchment, Visitor Profile and Performance 10 Retail and Service Provision 12 Leisure, Entertainment, Culture and Business Tourism 14 Office Space and Housing 15 Quality of the Environment 16 Access and Movement 19 Priorities for Intervention Priority Themes 1-6 20 Appendices Five-year Action Plan 23 Risk Register 31 Page 1 of 34 Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Part 1 - Introduction This Town Centre Strategy: The need for a Town Centre Strategy ■ Outlines a vision for Blackpool Town Centre in 15 The importance of Blackpool Town Centre to the years time, supported by six key objectives successful regeneration of the resort and the economic prosperity of the Fylde Coast cannot be overstated. ■ Describes the town centre today and opportunities for change The town centre has a pivotal role to play in driving the local economy and providing over 300,000 residents ■ Identifies priorities for improvement and within Blackpool and the wider Fylde Coast a thriving management of the town centre in line with the six sub-regional centre which meets their needs in terms objectives of retail, business, social and cultural activities. ■ Develops a five-year action plan with delivery Over 6,000 people are employed within the town mechanisms centre and it generates a non-food retail goods Key Aims of the Strategy turnover of around £316 million from residents of the catchment area. It is a key part of the resort, with ■ Improve business confidence and encourage the iconic landmarks of Blackpool Tower and Winter quality investment from private and public sectors Gardens and a host of shops, cafés, restaurants and ■ Inform future decision making and co-ordinate bars catering for residents and visitors. town centre initiatives to achieve complementary However, the town centre’s influence and status, improvements like the wider resort, has declined as it struggles to ■ Assist with town centre promotion and marketing compete with alternative retail and leisure attractions, a competitive conferencing market and the increasing influence of competing centres outside the Fylde Coast. Recent investment in the Houndshill Shopping Centre demonstrates that high quality investment does increase footfall and turnover and stimulate the visitor experience. With commitment for sustained improvement through further investment in Blackpool Tower, the Winter Gardens and the Promenade it is hoped that visitor numbers will further increase. Page 2 of 34 Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Town Centre Partnership Approach If we are to successfully position Blackpool Town There are a diverse range of public and private sector Centre as the first choice shopping destination for bodies which have a stake in the future of Blackpool Fylde Coast residents and an attractive place to visit Town Centre. Whilst Blackpool Council has a key and do business, the town centre needs to carve out a responsibility to enable and manage change, private high quality retail offer and combine this with a wider landowners own the majority of town centre sites positive leisure, cultural and social experience during and premises and have a responsibility as long-term the day and into the evening. investors. Exploiting key assets within the town centre – heritage, A co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to the coastal frontage and popular tourist attractions - and improvement of the town centre can only be achieved aligning these with new innovative developments by a strong town centre partnership approach - led by can help define a distinguishing offer and achieve an Blackpool Council, supported by investment agencies attractive, thriving town centre. and working together with private landowners, local businesses, service providers, developers and all other This approach to making town centres a diverse stakeholders. multifunctional destination for shopping, socialising, creativity, working, living and learning is at the heart of Town centre partnerships are already established in The Portas Review (2011). Blackpool is well positioned Blackpool Town Centre, including the Town Centre BID to create a unique town centre experience unavailable (Business Improvement District) and the more recently anywhere else. formed Town Team. Crucially we need to grow and develop these partnerships effectively if we are to To achieve this, we need a strategy that will provide successfully collaborate on implementing the Town a clear direction for the town centre and co-ordinate Centre Strategy. planning and management activities. This will help deliver positive change and provide a catalyst for further investment. As acknowledged in The Portas Review, the public sector alone cannot create vibrant town centres; there is also a role that landlords, retailers and businesses must play. Therefore, we need a strong town centre partnership approach to deliver the strategy. Page 3 of 34 Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Vision If Blackpool Town Centre is to become an attractive, thriving centre it must have a very clear vision of what it wants to achieve: In 2027, Blackpool Town Centre is the thriving heart of Britain’s favourite resort, offering an all year-round high quality shopping, leisure, cultural and entertainment destination. Residents and visitors from all walks of life choose to spend time here throughout the day and into the evening. The revitalised Tower and Winter Gardens are major attractions along with an exciting programme of events and festivals. Blackpool hosts a vibrant outdoor café culture, with attractive streets and spaces providing high quality public realm and strong links between the town centre and the beach. A high quality integrated transport system allows easy access to the town centre and provides a positive arrival experience. Page 4 of 34 Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Objectives Our vision for Blackpool Town Centre is supported by six objectives: Objective 1 Objective 4 Re-establish the town centre as the first choice Create a choice of high quality homes within and shopping destination for Fylde Coast residents. around the town centre. Objective 2 Objective 5 Strengthen the town centre as a vibrant leisure, Improve the quality of buildings, streets and spaces entertainment, cultural and business tourism and their maintenance and management. destination for residents and visitors. Objective 3 Objective 6 Grow the town centre as a place to do business by Provide convenient access to the town centre by creating a Central Business District and creative all modes of travel and enable easier pedestrian industries hub. movement. Page 5 of 34 Blackpool Town Centre Strategy Wider Town Centre Policy Context The policy framework What the policies say The Town Centre Strategy aligns with the following To support resort regeneration, the town centre is Council plans and strategies: identified as a key focus for future economic growth, development and investment, in order to address past Blackpool Planning Policy Framework1 decline and successfully position it as the first choice ■ Blackpool Local Plan 2001-16 (2006) shopping destination for Fylde Coast residents and an ■ Blackpool Core Strategy 2012-27 (being prepared) attractive place to visit and do business. 2 ■ Talbot Gateway Planning Brief SPD (2006) The emerging Core Strategy defines the town centre boundary and a principal retail core which includes ■ Former Central Station (Leisure Quarter) site the main shopping streets and the majority of large Development Brief SPD (2011) multiple retailers (see Figure 1). It identifies the town Blackpool Local Transport Plan 2011-16 (2011) centre as the focus for major new retail development in the Borough, and contains a number of planning The Strategy has also been informed by: policies supporting town centre development which: National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2012) ■ Strengthens the retail offer, with the principal Planning for Town Centres Practice Guide (2009) retail core being the main focus for major retail development North West Regional Spatial Strategy (expected to be abolished imminently) ■ Introduces quality cafes and restaurants Fylde Coast Retail Study (2011) ■ Enhances the quality of buildings, streets and open spaces and connects the different areas of the Blackpool Town Centre studies: town centre to improve pedestrian movement Town Centre Health Check (2011) ■ ■ Utilises key heritage assets and complements these ■ Business Appraisal (2009) with new innovative development ■ Retail and Business Strategy Framework (2008) ■ Grows an office sector ■ Public Realm Framework (2008) ■ Improves access to the town centre The Portas Review (2011) ■ Introduces quality homes in the long term Policies support Council assistance in site assembly where required to facilitate major redevelopment. 1 It is a non-statutory document and does not directly form part 2 A key planning document for Blackpool