A £200m plan for Blackpool’s annual illuminations to be powered by offshore wind energy is being drawn up by the council.

The plan was revealed by Sir Peter Hall, the chair of regeneration company ReBlackpool. Hall said Arup had prepared a feasibility study for the scheme, which is designed to provide the infrastructure for new, all-weather, zero-carbon tourist attractions for the resort, including the illuminations. He said: “We could send on power for other towns inland, given what it’s like on a typical day on Blackpool’s seafront.”

Hall said the idea would be that a private sector resort developer would contribute £150m of the cost, with the public sector paying the rest. He added that he was dissatisfied with the government’s £300m regeneration package for the town, which doesn’t include funding for the wind farm.

This amount is to compensate Blackpool for its failure to secure a supercasino. He said: “I’m really disappointed. Except for the £110m tram upgrade, this is not new money.”

Hall this week announced he will leave his post later this year after four years at the agency.

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