Contractor named for Blackpool education-led campus

Morgan Sindall has been appointed to deliver Blackpool’s Multiversity mixed-use educational development, which is expected to bring up to 3,000 students and staff into the town centre.

To be delivered in two phases, the scheme will include up to 32,600m² of education and commercial space across several buildings, starting with the Multiversity block.

Outline approval for the scheme was granted in April 2024, with a reserved matters application to follow this summer.

Multiversity has been designed by architects Hawkins\Brown to be carbon-neutral in operation and aims to complement the rest of the Talbot Gateway regeneration.

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for ‘levelling up’, said: “For a development of this size, we needed a large construction company with a track record in delivering quality education campuses.”

Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool & the Fylde College, added: “The appointment of Morgan Sindall, who have an outstanding reputation within the education construction sector, is a critical milestone in the delivery of the Multiversity for the students and residents of Blackpool and the Fylde coast.

“The Multiversity will genuinely transform the opportunities for local people, providing access to higher level skills, supporting local businesses in securing talent, and contributing to a vibrant town centre.”
The Multiversity is phase four of Blackpool Council’s £350M regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area around Blackpool North train station.