More New Offices at Talbot Road – Talbot Gateway Phase 5

Plans have been submitted by Blackpool Council for more New Offices at Talbot Road – Talbot Gateway Phase 5. It’s a £45m development bringing even more economic benefit to the town centre.

Regeneration of Talbot Gateway

The transformation of the area around Blackpool North Station is known as Talbot Gateway. And it’s a large area of land which is being regenerated – so it’s being worked on in phases.

• The first phase saw the construction of Sainsbury’s supermarket, the development of offices, car parking and Bickerstaffe Square. Completed in 2014 it now accommodates more than 1,000 public and private-sector employees including Blackpool Council. More about Phase One of Talbot Gateway and Bickerstaffe Square
• The Holiday Inn and Tramway Terminus marks Phase Two of the Talbot Gateway project in Blackpool’s Central Business District. But this isn’t the end of the transformation around here!
• Phase Three includes the restoration of The Hop pub and conversion into a dentists. Plus clearing land and building a new Department for Work and Pensions office block for 3000 workers. More about Phase Three DWP offices
• In 2023 it was announced that the new Blackpool ‘Multiversity’ will be sited off Cookson Street as Phase Four. More about the Phase Four Multiversity complex
• A Phase Five office development was revealed in June 2024 – another office block sited near Blackpool North Station, off Talbot Road.

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More New Offices at Talbot Road – Talbot Gateway Phase 5

Full planning permission is being sought for a £45m, 52,950 sq ft office building off Talbot Road. This alone will bring more than 1,000 additional employees into Blackpool town centre.

The land is on the site of the former Apollo 2000 store (pictured above). It sits within the boundary of the Talbot Gateway development around Blackpool North train station. We went to take a look at the site in June 2024 before any work began on site –

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Blackpool Council’s development partner at Talbot Gateway is nationwide place-maker Muse. Together, they are in advanced discussions with an organisation that wishes to develop and occupy a new office within the town centre.

This office will be the fifth phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway development. Collectively it brings over 8,000 workers and students into Blackpool town centre – breathing life, vitality and economic benefit into the town.

Regenerating a Desolate Area

Cllr Mark Smith is Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council. He said: “This is another major step forward in our plans to make Blackpool better and boost our local economy.

“The area around the train station was previously desolate and in desperate need of regeneration. Over the last ten years we’ve shaped it into a desirable location for businesses looking for quality office space on the Fylde coast. Our initial ambition and investment to build the earlier phases of the Talbot Gateway has led us to be in this position. Now, more organisations are approaching us to help them move their jobs into the town centre.

“In turn, it’s a huge potential for the private sector, encouraging them to continue to invest in Blackpool. Creating more opportunities for business and creating more year-round, well-paid jobs for local people”

Developing Opportunities

The Talbot Gateway is a sustainable development regenerating the heart of Blackpool around the main train station. Two million passengers currently use the station per year. That number is expected to rise as new developments are completed.

The site is accessible via train, tram and bus, as well as a 650-space car park off Talbot Road. Plans for an additional car park at the corner of Church Street and King Street will be submitted later this year (formerly the site of the Syndicate nightclub).

The Apollo 2000 Site

Do you remember Apollo 2000 or previous businesses which occupied this site? Leave a comment below – or if you’ve got any photos please email them to jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk

MANY THANKS to Nick Moore and his fascinating History of Blackpool for the following historical information. You can read it here

The Apollo Electrical centre originally opened at 11 Station Road Blackpool in 1980. Then in March 1985, renamed Apollo 2000, they moved to Talbot Road, opening their new electrical superstore.

On 11 June 2013 it closed, moving to the Woodman Centre on Vicarage Lane and reopening on 17 June 2013 simply as ‘Apollo’.

The Talbot Road store was demolished, being partly replaced by the Sainsbury’s petrol station in May 2014. And the Vicarage Lane store finally closed for good in March 2015.