The Blackpool Pier Company (BPC) suffered a blow to its development plans this week, with news that their application to develop two new fairground ridges on the resort’s South Pier had been denied by town planners.
Owned and operated by the Sedgwick family, BPC had filed paperwork to install a Star Flyer ride and a new log flume ride on the south and north sides of the Victorian structure respectively, alongside the claim that the new attractions would allow the company to generate revenue required for the maintenance and upkeep of all three of the resort’s piers (which are all under BPC ownership).
Due to the Grade II listed status of the South Pier, all improvement and additions to the structure must be seen to “preserve or enhance” its historic character: a criterion that, within its application for the new rides, the operator acknowledged would not necessarily be met.
“The proposed structures will introduce modern elements that may temporarily alter the pier’s silhouette and historic aesthetic during operation,” they conceded, adding that these changes amounted to “necessary enhancement” to make the structure economically viable.
However, this argument clearly fell on deaf ears: with the town council’s planning committee rejecting the application noting the plans did not represent a “high quality” project.
So let’s try another option?
Blackpool’s South Pier has proposed a new attraction for vacant land adjacent to the pier, after plans for a Star Rider and a Log Flume ride were refused by councillors.
If approved, a two-in-one Upside-Down House and Spinning House would be built on the plot, which was formerly occupied by Karting 2000.
“The application site is to the west of the tramway, between South Pier to the north and the Sandcastle Waterworld to the south on one of the areas reclaimed from the sea as part of the wider Promenade improvement works,” states the proposal.
“The Upside-Down House is a two-storey structure which has a maximum height of approximately seven metres, a depth of 13 metres and a width of 11 metres.”
