Blackpool Council acquired the Houndshill Shopping Centre for £47.6m in November 2019 as part of its long-term strategy to revitalise the town centre.

Due to complete in winter 2022, the first phase enabling works involve initial utilities diversion works and the preparation of the site for the main building works.

The Houndshill Phase 2 extension will deliver a range of entertainment, retail and leisure facilities that meet the needs of the modern family, which will complement the existing shops at the Houndshill, boost both day and night time business, and increase the amount of time and money spent in the town centre. This includes a nine screen, 850 seat cinema complex from MMC Cinemas.

Graham is lead contractor for the scheme, with CBRE acting as project manager and cost consultant. The developed has been facilitated by £5m of funding from the government’s Covid-19 Getting Building Fund, following formal approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in October last year. Blackpool Council will fund the balance of the scheme through prudential borrowing.