When the Blackpool Tramway extension opened up Talbot Road to North Station there is little doubt that the area surrounding it had a rather unfinished look with undeveloped land. That is now changing and although its not the office development envisaged as part of the original plans it is starting to make it look a lot better than it did. Peter Dockerty provides us with some photos.
At one stage plans for the land either side of the approach to the tram terminus had included office blocks as part of Talbot Gateway but with this seemingly not progressing at the moment, Blackpool Council confirmed last year that they would be tarmacking the land to create a new car park. However, as 2024 went on – and indeed as 2025 started – this didn’t happen and the “wasteground” remained in place.
But the end of March and start of April has finally seen this change with contractors in situ to tarmac the area around the tram tracks. Whilst this may not be the best use of what is apparently prime development land and isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as it may be, at least it is a vast improvement on what was there before and should open up the area a lot more than before.
The last day of March 2025 and work is underway on tarmacking the area. This is the Talbot Road side of the tram terminus compound.
Four days later on 3rd April and good progress has been made, even so far as lines being painted for the car park spaces. There does remain the temporary orange fencing in place, but hopefully that may be removed at some point as well. (Both Photographs by Peter Dockerty)
Unfortunately, a sign of the times. Money is in short supply on all fronts as evidenced by the state of the Blackpool town centre shopping area and the situation with the Heritage Trams. Therefore it’s unlikely there will be funds available for development of the North Station area any time soon; so it’s as well that the rough ground has now become one of the ubiquitous car parks the likes of which have replaced derelict and burnt-down hotels, etc. Not the most commercial use of land but surely better than an eyesore.
The problem with Carparks anywhere is that you need a workable traffic infrastructure to actually get to the damn parks in the first place so as not to clog up all roads leading to and from said parks!