Talbot Road

Talbot Road, Blackpool is a major commercial office development currently on site, forming part of the wider £350 million Talbot Gateway regeneration programme. Delivered for Muse in partnership with the MOD and Government Property Agency, the £45 million, six-storey development will provide approximately 53,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation and bring up to 1,100 employees into Blackpool town centre, further strengthening economic activity around Blackpool North station. Construction is underway, with completion targeted for spring 2027.

Located adjacent to Blackpool North station, the project represents a significant investment in the town centre, supporting economic growth, increasing footfall, and reinforcing Blackpool’s growing civic and commercial role.

The building has been developed as a contemporary six-storey office environment with a clear and efficient massing strategy that supports flexible internal layouts and long-term adaptability. Its architectural approach responds to both the prominence of the site and the wider character of the Talbot Gateway masterplan, creating a robust and well-resolved commercial building suited to modern public-sector occupation.

Particular emphasis has been placed on façade quality and buildability. As Phil Malthouse, Brock Carmichael Partner, noted, the design adopts “a light coloured buff brickwork in keeping with the local vernacular, whilst the vertical double height bay expression is rational and elegant, reflecting the internal layouts.” This approach gives the building a strong civic presence while maintaining clarity and efficiency in delivery.

The scheme will provide Grade A office accommodation across CAT A and CAT B fit-outs, designed to accommodate a range of government functions within a secure, efficient and adaptable working environment. Internal layouts are organised to maximise flexibility, supporting evolving workplace needs while maintaining clear servicing, circulation and operational performance.

The development is intended to provide a modern Civil Service workplace that promotes productivity, wellbeing and long-term usability, aligned with current public-sector standards and best practice office design guidance.

Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent standards, the building incorporates a series of sustainability-led measures aimed at reducing both operational and embodied carbon. The development will be powered entirely by electricity and includes air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and a high-performance envelope that supports long-term energy efficiency.

Technical delivery has also been shaped by off-site construction and façade innovation. Phil Malthouse highlighted this in noting that, “Working with Thorpe Precast, we have developed a high-performance panelised solution. Its off-site manufacture will deliver numerous benefits in terms of efficiency, site safety and carbon footprint.” Together, these measures support a highly sustainable and buildable solution within a live contractor-led environment.

Working alongside VINCI Building, the project has progressed from design development into coordinated construction delivery, with a strong focus on technical integration, programme certainty and stakeholder collaboration. The scheme continues to make positive progress on site, with the steel frame nearing completion and precast façade installation set to begin as the next phase of works advances.

Construction is due to complete in spring 2027, marking another major milestone in the continued transformation of Talbot Gateway.