Plans for £10m resort hotel

Plans have been unveiled for a £10m hotel in the centre of Blackpool, boasting nearly 200 bedrooms. A block of buildings on Adelaide Street, next to the Winter Gardens, would be demolished to make way for the five to seven-storey hotel with 192 rooms.

In the meantime, developers Kewdeal propose to use the land, bounded by Leopold Grove and Alfred Street, as a car park.

The company has applied for temporary planning permission for a car park for three years, but says it is already talking to possible operators for the hotel, which would be aimed at the three-star market.

Kewdeal managing director Martin Roat said: “We would anticipate a three-star hotel but we are in discussions with a number of people.

Until we get planning consent, we can’t really say much more.

“But we think this is an excellent site for that use and believe Blackpool is in need of some contemporary, modern hotels.”

A planning application has been submitted to the council, which

includes flood risk, transport and environmental impact statements.

The hotel would have 44 parking spaces and be accessed from Leopold Grove. The buildings to be demolished have been empty for some time.

Those on Adelaide Street were previously used as solicitors’ and accountants’ offices, while small hoteliers on Alfred Street have already moved out.

Coun Doug Green, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Blackpool Council, is joint-owner of one of the buildings which was the base for his accountancy firm before it relocated.

He said: “I would be unhappy with the site being left as a car park for three years and would prefer to see the developers make a renewal of the property at an early date.

“It would cost a lot to make any of these properties into a modern building.

“They need demolishing but I would like to see them move to their future development at an early date.”