Morgan Sindall's Muse seals £220m Blackpool deal

Contractor Morgan Sindall has sealed the deal on a £220m contract to redevelop part of Blackpool city centre.

The group's urban regeneration business, Muse Developments, has signed an agreement with the city council to revamp a 10ha zone in the north of central Blackpool.

The Talbot Gateway scheme includes 160,000m2 of new office space, a supermarket, hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants. Replacement courts, divisional police headquarters buildings, a health centre and new library are included as options in the plans.

Muse Developments was named preferred developer in 2007.

Paul Smith, chief executive of Morgan Sindall, said: “Although conditions remain subdued in the urban regeneration market, this latest agreement is further evidence of Muse Developments' ability to continue to secure significant long-term partnership agreements. The business is also well positioned for two further large-scale redevelopment opportunities, which we expect to secure later this year.”

Sir Howard Bernstein, chairman of ReBlackpool, which has been working on the scheme since 2006, added: “This agreement marks the culmination of three years of hard work and marks a significant milestone in the regeneration of Blackpool and its transformation into a year-round resort.”

If the scheme gets planning permission, work is expected to start in 2011 following a consultation period.