Construction work has commenced on a new £100 million office development in Blackpool.

The building forms part of the place-changing £350m Talbot Gateway regeneration that is transforming the heart of the town centre.

Nationwide placemaker, Muse, and its partner, Blackpool Council, have started work bringing forward a 215,000sq ft highly-sustainable office building for the Civil Service after naming VINCI Building as the contractor.

More than 3,000 public servants will relocate to the striking, seven-storey regional hub, when it completes in March 2025.

The new offices will generate significant new footfall to the area, boosting trade to local businesses, retailers, restaurants, cafes and leisure facilities, alongside a wealth of new job opportunities for local people.

Alan McBride, projects director at Muse, said: "We're pleased to appoint VINCI Building and to start on site building this fantastic facility on behalf of Blackpool Council. “As a business, we’re committed to creating places with purpose for people that offer tangible environmental and social benefits to local communities, and are looking forward to seeing the building progress. "We're focused with partners as we re-energise the town centre, by delivering a place that blends the town’s rich history with its aspirations for the future. We’re delighted to be playing such an important role with the council in delivering our shared vision for building a better, more attractive and resilient Blackpool."

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The new building has been designed by renowned architects, Make, to BREEAM 'Excellent' standard, which means it will operate on low energy and promote both sustainable development and wellbeing.

An inclusive approach to sustainability was taken from the outset to make sure the building will be as energy-efficient as possible, with high levels of insulation and air source heat pumps to provide low-carbon heating and cooling. Demand-driven ventilation will improve indoor air quality, while at the same time allowing energy savings during times when the building is not occupied.

During the building's inception, partners completed early-stage whole life and upfront embodied carbon assessments, to eliminate inefficiencies where possible and reduce the building’s whole carbon footprint. This results in the new offices aiming to reduce its upfront embodied carbon intensity to 800 kgCO2e/m2. compared with 1100kgCO2e/m2 for a typical office development.

The site, which will include a new town centre square with cycle and pedestrian routes, is within walking distance of the new tram interchange at Blackpool North Station which is nearing completion.

The interchange forms part of phase two of Talbot Gateway along with a new 144-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel, which will open later this year, creating 50 new full-time jobs to the town.

The long-standing partnership between Muse and Blackpool Council, has already delivered the 125,000 sq ft Number One Bickerstaffe Square council office, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a refurbished 650-space multi-storey car park, alongside extensive public spaces for the community to enjoy.

While some of the parking has been taken away due to the construction of the new building, there will still be a limited number of spaces on East Topping Street car park.