Central Station Car Park Blackpool

Zooreviewsuk

Zooreviewsuk

Well-Known Member
An announcement very soon on this so council are saying.

Was out and around the area at the weekend, and a number of "Sea World" uniformed people were walking around the site with men in suits.

It was rumoured 25 years ago, it was going to be the place for a UK Disneyworld style park, but that fell through, then was rumoured that it was going to be a Mega Casino complex and so forth.

However end of last year, a number of council reps and developers went to Orlando and were viewing Universal Studio's, Busch Gardens and Sea World.

With recent visits from Sea World officials coming to Blackpool, I would not be surprised if it's announced in the next month or two, that a UK style Sea World or massive expansion of the Sea Life centre (which is pretty much near the facility) is announced, it would not surprise me if the development was a big expansion of the Sea Life centre, using the old Central Station, Police and Council buildings as larger aquariums and outside exhibits, and including a car park.

There is definitely a big planned announcement for the Development due soon, but having seen Sea World clothed people walking round the site over the last weekend, has got me thinking maybe Blackpool could be about to build the first Aquatic Collection (Orca's, Dolphins, Manatee's?) for the UK in over 25 years.

What would be people's thoughts? Good idea or not? Viable or not ?
 
This would be brilliant however I do hope that orcas will not be involved unless the enclosures are big enough which I highly doubt
 
kiang said:
Sea world or Seal life uniforms?
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Some had Merlin jackets on, others had Orlando SeaWorld overcoats on. They were walking around with A3 papers, stopping every 10-20m and pointing and that. They were also taking photo's and that.
 
Sounds good but highly skeptical. The car park makes the council an awful lot of money and the space isnt huge. Also wouldn’t be an ideal place to start digging big holes in the ground. However maybe a different kind of attraction operated by the Seaworld group OR (possibly more likely) I’m told Merlin are taking over a new part of the buildings and may like to add penguins......surely a seaworld style penguin ride attraction? Since Merlin have rides in quite a few of their other attractions this may be a logical step. Also they would need a plentiful source of ‘cold weather’ penguins.....

Entirely speculation and putting 2 and 2 together and maybe coming up with 5 . But seems logical.

( Hope I’m proved wrong though and it’s something bigger!)
 
Hyak2 said:
Sounds good but highly skeptical. The car park makes the council an awful lot of money and the space isnt huge. Also wouldn’t be an ideal place to start digging big holes in the ground. However maybe a different kind of attraction operated by the Seaworld group OR (possibly more likely) I’m told Merlin are taking over a new part of the buildings and may like to add penguins......surely a seaworld style penguin ride attraction? Since Merlin have rides in quite a few of their other attractions this may be a logical step. Also they would need a plentiful source of ‘cold weather’ penguins.....

Entirely speculation and putting 2 and 2 together and maybe coming up with 5 . But seems logical.

( Hope I’m proved wrong though and it’s something bigger!)
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The car park, Bony Street Police Station, Multi Story car park and Magistrate Court buildings, were all sold about 7 years ago. It's been rented back to the Council since. The Police Headquarters and Justice Centre are currently being built out by the Motorway by the big Tesco and open later this year.

Demolition will then start on that section.

A development is due to be announced soon, and it was purchased by an American Theme Park company, but rumours around here are Merlin are heavily involved.

I believe Merlin are buying a stake in the Sea World Franchise as well, so it would fit.

Indoor Penguin exhibit would open the door to Emperor Penguins and so on (Sea World have them in their parks) and would not be surprised to see Walrus and Manatee's like the Arctic Section at Sea World.

There could obviously be rides outside but with the Pleasure Beach building the biggest roller coaster in the UK at present, I can't see them going down the theme park route.

Whether Wales and Dolphin's could be added I don't know, but wouldn't be surprised to see it end up a massive sea life centre with outside exhibits and use the old Sea Life centre as a starting point to the facility expanding outside.

All the houses and business' behind the Sea Life centre by the old Bony Street market have all been purchased over the last 18 months and is very much part of the devlopment area.

There is also talks between developer and Coral Island to purchase that plot, to use that area as a Hotel doing the devlopement, so the planned area is definitely a bigger site than it may look like.

When you consider the Car Parks head down towards the football ground as well, the plot of land is actually absolutely massive and the attraction would probably use the car parks around the football ground and south shore station as their own car parks if it's a major attraction.
 
Very interesting! And very local too, which is always a bonus! I will keep an eye out for all updates.
 
Much as I'd like this to come to pass I reckon this will be needed....

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The area is not large at all but then if your testing the waters for a water park with some sea mammals, then its probably the right size.

Is there nothing in the planning for this? Even outline planning permission?
 
I know I'd go but I wonder how popular a Sea World style attraction would be without performing dolphins etc.
 
beccasunbear said:
Apparently it’s a 20 acre site.
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Plus with the compulsory buys on Boney Street, and if they buy Coral Island and expand on the pre built parking towards Bloomfield Road which is already adjoining it can expand to 25 acres, this is only 7 acres smaller than Blackpool Zoo. Even at 20 acres it’s not overly small.
 
taun said:
The area is not large at all but then if your testing the waters for a water park with some sea mammals, then its probably the right size.

Is there nothing in the planning for this? Even outline planning permission?
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A lot of the development talk and plans are unknown but a big announcement is expected before February regarding the land, I got the feeling, those looking round at the weekend, may possibly be the people who would do the planned drawings and they were getting a feel for the place.

Priority was new police headquarters and that went ahead last year, since then the owner of the land, has been buying most of the surrounding plots of land and businesses and it’s been muted that an announcement of what the development will be in the next few weeks.

Given Merlins already purchased, Madame Tussaud’s, Sealife and Blackpool Tower and Dumgeons in the past they already own much of the Golden Mile and with them heavily rumoured to be buying into the Sea World chain, it would make sense their first UK development would be in an area they already have a monopoly and involvement in.

With the Sea next door, it would also be ideal for release and rescue operations as well.
 
Zooreviewsuk said:
A lot of the development talk and plans are unknown but a big announcement is expected before February regarding the land, I got the feeling, those looking round at the weekend, may possibly be the people who would do the planned drawings and they were getting a feel for the place.
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Just to stoke your excitement for it, this is exactly what they do do. I have done plenty site walk overs before starting design work/construction work.
 
beccasunbear said:
Apparently it’s a 20 acre site.
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If it was a marine park then it will have to be something with large enclosures as there will be uproar from the numpties that watch black fish and believed it was so black and white.....
 
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