ReBlackpool is the Urban Regeneration Company established in February 2005 to pursue the aim of turning Blackpool in the north-west of England into a world-class year-round resort. A major part of the ambitious plan to transform the town hinges on hosting Britain’s first super casino. This week a formal planning application was submitted to the Council for a conference and leisure quarter. The plans are expected to be examined by the Council’s Development Control Committee and referred to the Government Office for the North West.

From today local residents and stakeholders will get the chance to comment on the proposals when details of the application are displayed at the central station car park until Wednesday 16th August. In June more than 1,000 people visited a 2-day exhibition of the proposed ReBlackpool development, which includes a hotel and spa, casino, conference centre and supporting retail and leisure services on a 23-acre site bordering the Promenade. The conference and casino quarter is a vital element of Blackpool’s Masterplan that was designed to bring radical economic and social regeneration.

Doug Garrett, Chief Executive of ReBlackpool, Blackpool’s Urban Regeneration Company, said: “We hope to have outline permission in place later in the year, before the Casino Advisory Panel makes its recommendation to Government about where the licence will go. The response from the consultation so far has been very good indeed. People have been positive about what they have seen”.

The Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) is due to visit Blackpool next month as it continues its assessment of local authority casino licence applications. At present Blackpool lies in third place following preliminary assessment, after Greenwich (London Dome) and Glasgow. ReBlackpool, with the motto Reshape Rethink Rebuild Renew, is confident of winning the regional casino licence and creating as many as 20,000 jobs (6,500 direct) with its £1.4 billion (US$2.6 billion) masterplan that could see visitor numbers exceed 20 million a year. Should such optimism be realized, it would certainly lead to Blackpool Reborn. (E-08.10.06)

© Copyright 2006 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage