A new Ministry of Defence (MOD) office is underway in Blackpool, marking a major milestone in the town’s £350 million Talbot Gateway regeneration.
The 53,000 sq ft, purpose-built office will house up to 1,100 staff from Defence Business Services (DBS), the MOD’s shared services organisation. It will consolidate DBS teams from a leased local site into a single, modern workspace in the town centre.
The project is being delivered by Blackpool Council in partnership with Muse Places, VINCI Building, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Ross Porter, Programme Manager at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said: “After several years of pre-construction work and a huge collaborative effort from all parties involved, progressing this project to the construction stage is a great milestone to reach. We’re very much looking forward to delivering a first-class office facility for MOD staff in the area.”
The move forms part of the MOD’s wider Defence Estate Optimisation programme, a £5.1 billion UK-wide investment in modernising defence infrastructure. DBS provides essential corporate services across finance, IT, procurement, and HR to military personnel, veterans, civilian staff, and wider government departments.
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is another major step forward in our plans to make Blackpool better. With over 8,000 workers and students coming to the town centre in the next few years, this provides a phenomenal opportunity and confidence for local businesses to continue to invest and hire more local people.”
Located near Blackpool North station, the new MOD hub will anchor the latest phase of the Talbot Gateway development and support the town’s ambition to build a thriving Central Business District.
Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, said: “This future-proofed, sustainable workspace for the Civil Service will bring increased footfall into the town centre, spur further economic growth in the heart of Blackpool, and build on the momentum we’ve generated alongside our long-standing partners, Blackpool Council, for more than 15 years.”
Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.
Photo (Business In Blackpool)