‘Vital’ money to reduce congestion in Blackpool gets the green light

Ambitious plans to tackle traffic congestion in Blackpool city center have been given the green light by the government.

The £17 million Town Center Access Scheme had faced an uncertain future, despite receiving £15.3 million in Leveling Up funding from the previous government.

Blackpool Council chiefs had warned that the work could not be completed by the March 2026 deadline. That is the time by which the money must have been spent, putting the investment at risk.

But Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, has now received confirmation from Alex Norris, Minister for Local Growth, saying the funding has been included in the Budget.

Mr Webb said: “I have lobbied hard to secure this money, which is vital to the transformation of the city centre, so I am pleased that we can confirm this.

“Our existing infrastructure does not take into account the levels of traffic we are seeing now, and with another 4,000 officers coming into the city centre, we need to make these improvements.

“The plan will also improve pedestrian access to support the increasing number of visitors in the city centre, which is vital for our high streets.”

Blackpool Council has agreed to contribute £1.7 million to the project, representing 10% of the total cost.

Detailed plans are yet to be drawn up, but work is expected to include improving key junctions to avoid congestion in the city center and encouraging more environmentally friendly travel, such as the use of buses, footpaths and cycle paths.

It will also support regeneration, including the new civil service center Opening next year in King Street, further office development proposed on Talbot Road and the multi-versity education campus intended for a site along Cookson Street.

The project also aims to create environmental improvements in air quality and support the introduction of electric buses.