Ambitious new plans have been submitted to construct eight commercial buildings at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, a move designed to attract fresh business investment and create new jobs.
Detailed Plans for Business Growth
The detailed Reserved Matters application, prepared by planning consultants and architects Cassidy + Ashton on behalf of Blackpool Council, follows an earlier approved outline plan for the site. The proposal seeks permission for the erection of eight units intended for business, industrial, storage, and warehousing uses, alongside a retail and café facility.
The development, covering a substantial 67,166 square metre area of land between Amy Johnson Way and Common Edge Road, includes several key features:
- A changing places facility for accessibility.
- Associated access points, service yards, and boundary treatments.
- Landscaping and extensive parking provisions.
- An Electric Vehicle charging facility on Amy Johnson Way.
- A new link road between Jepson Way and the site's spine road.
Enhanced Transport and Infrastructure
This development coincides with significant improvements to transport connections in the Squires Gate business area. A crucial new spine road, currently under construction and set to fully open in 2026, will link Amy Johnson Way with Common Edge Road, providing direct access to the new development plots.
The proposed buildings are designed to include partial mezzanine floors, maximising the available floorspace for future occupants. In a Design and Access Statement supporting the application, it was concluded that the scheme represents a high-quality form of development suited to a range of businesses.
A Boost for the Local Economy
The statement emphasised that the development has been designed to complement its surroundings in scale and appearance while meeting operational needs. It asserts that the plans comply with all relevant national and local planning policies, recommending that reserved matters consent be granted.
This initiative is a clear strategic push to stimulate economic growth and provide more employment opportunities in Blackpool, leveraging the improved infrastructure to make the Enterprise Zone an even more attractive proposition for companies.
