Blackpool cancels plans for £26m museum
Council to explore creating a museum in a different place
Blackpool council has cancelled plans to build a £26m museum in the town’s Grade II* listed Pavilion Theatre.
The project was awarded £1.24m by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014 to explore the feasibility of developing a museum. But in a statement last week, the council said that it had today decided not to proceed with the project, due to an £8m capital funding gap.
Council leader Simon Blackburn said: “From day one with the project I have always said that if it didn’t add up financially then we wouldn’t go ahead with it.
“We won’t ever risk taxpayers’ money unless we are happy that we can recover that investment. While the business plan was properly thought through, the financial risk that the council would have to take to get the museum off the ground was simply too high.”
Blackburn added: “We will continue to explore the possibility of building a museum in Blackpool to tell people about the important role that this resort has played and still does play as a favourite British holiday destination.”
The council said that work will also continue on finding a different use for the Pavilion Theatre and Horseshoe venue, which is in the resort’s Winter Gardens complex.
The project was awarded £1.24m by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014 to explore the feasibility of developing a museum. But in a statement last week, the council said that it had today decided not to proceed with the project, due to an £8m capital funding gap.
Council leader Simon Blackburn said: “From day one with the project I have always said that if it didn’t add up financially then we wouldn’t go ahead with it.
“We won’t ever risk taxpayers’ money unless we are happy that we can recover that investment. While the business plan was properly thought through, the financial risk that the council would have to take to get the museum off the ground was simply too high.”
Blackburn added: “We will continue to explore the possibility of building a museum in Blackpool to tell people about the important role that this resort has played and still does play as a favourite British holiday destination.”
The council said that work will also continue on finding a different use for the Pavilion Theatre and Horseshoe venue, which is in the resort’s Winter Gardens complex.