The Blackpool Central multi-storey car park is now open in time for the main summer season

The seven-storey facility has been built on land at Central Car Park with the remainder of the site earmarked for the Blackpool Central leisure development including indoor theme parks, hotels and restaurants.

The first two floors of the 1,306 space car park opened this week, with the third floor due to open on Saturday and the others to follow on a phased basis.

Coun Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “We are delighted to be able to start opening up the new Blackpool Central multi-storey ahead of the next school holidays later this month. The car park provides more than 1,000 spaces in the heart of Blackpool, offering a state-of-the-art payment system and a greatly-enhanced user experience.”

Contractors Ballast Nedam began work on the construction of the structure in July 2022 and initially it had been expected to take 16 months with fitting out to follow.

The car park is operated by the council with charges starting from £4.50 for two hours using an automatic number plate recognition system. The ANPR system reads a registration plate on entrance and raises the barrier (without a ticket). Before returning to their car motorists then enter their registration number onto the payment machine, make the payment and the exit barrier will recognise they have paid.

Nikal, which is the main developer for the Blackpool Central scheme, funded the construction of the car park after agreeing a deal with one of the UK’s biggest pension funds, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), to finance delivery.

Drivers will get 15 minutes when they will not be charged, in order to enable people to still use the route to reach Chapel Street.

Further development of the site is due to see Blackpool Magistrates Court - which is now permanently closed due to crumbling concrete - demolished along with the former police station to make way for new leisure investment. A new courthouse will be built on Devonshire Road.