Architects at Carters Building Consultancy have revealed concept designs for a major new arena at the Blackpool Central regeneration site. The independently developed proposal, named “The Phoenix Arena”, sets out a vision for a large-scale cultural and performance venue that could act as a catalyst for town centre renewal while creating a striking new civic landmark.
The Preston-based practice confirmed that the concept work was carried out at no public expense and is intended to encourage discussion about the long-term future of the site. At this stage, the proposal is strategic rather than detailed, demonstrating what might be possible in terms of scale and impact rather than presenting a finalised development plan.
The vision follows renewed calls from Chris Webb for a world-class arena in Blackpool. Webb recently relaunched a petition supporting the idea, which has gained backing from thousands of residents who believe a major venue could strengthen the town’s economy and cultural offer.
To illustrate feasibility, Carters overlaid the footprint of Co-op Live — Manchester’s 20,000-capacity arena — onto the Blackpool Central site. The comparison was designed to show that a venue of similar size could be accommodated within the available land. The architects noted that detailed considerations such as transport links, servicing, access, and integration with surrounding developments would need to be addressed through future masterplanning.
This drawing presents a scaled site plan of the Blackpool Central regeneration area with the footprint of Co-op Live — a 20,000-plus capacity venue in Manchester — overlaid onto the site. The comparison illustrates that an arena of comparable scale could potentially be accommodated within the available land at Blackpool Central, subject to detailed design, transport planning, and infrastructure considerations.
The wider Blackpool Central regeneration scheme is expected to attract more than £300 million of investment into the 10-acre site near the Promenade and Blackpool Tower. The ambition is to create a year-round indoor entertainment destination that complements the town’s traditional seaside attractions and helps extend the visitor season.
The future of the site was thrown into uncertainty following the collapse of former developer Nikal Ltd in 2024. However, Blackpool Council has stated that it remains committed to progressing new proposals and securing fresh investment to move regeneration plans forward.
Although The Phoenix Arena remains at concept stage, it has reignited debate about Blackpool’s long-term ambitions and whether a large-scale arena could help reshape the town centre, attract major events, and reinforce Blackpool’s status as a leading entertainment destination in the North West.
A concept mockup of the proposed ‘Phoenix Arena’ in Blackpool Central.
Text source: Carter Building Consultants
Images by © Carter Building Consultants
