£40m government investment in Blackpool announced as Levelling Up minister Michael Gove visits B&FC’s Lancashire Energy HQ (LEHQ)

A significant investment of £40m that will deliver new leisure facilities, create jobs, boost tourism and help level up Blackpool has been announced by Michael Gove in his first major intervention since being reappointed as Secretary of State for Levelling Up.

Describing the project as, “the biggest single regeneration project in Blackpool in all our lifetimes.”, Mr Gove spoke about the importance of creating the kind of high quality jobs, infrastructure and homes that the people of Blackpool deserved.

He was also in town to attend the British-Irish Council Summit together with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak being held at Blackpool and The Fylde College’s Lancashire Energy HQ, a North West centre of excellence for training and development in both the established and evolving energy industries.

Whilst the summit had a broad remit, the choice of venue and its location reflected a focus on sustainability and regeneration with participants discussing opportunities to support thriving local economies and build sustainable and resilient communities.

It was therefore entirely fitting that Mr Gove’s announcement regarding the regeneration funding for Blackpool came ahead of the Summit demonstrating that the Government is delivering against the objectives set out in its Levelling Up agenda.