Laura Sharman 13 September 2017

Council buys back Blackpool airport in £4m deal

Blackpool Council has purchased Blackpool Airport site in a £4.25m deal.

The council had sold the site back in 2004 for £13m, but has today confirmed it has taken 100% ownership of the site in a deal with Balfour Beatty.

Leader of the council said the deal represents a ‘positive new dawn’ for the site and was confident the money for the purchase would be repaid.

Cllr Simon Blackburn said: ‘Blackpool Airport is such a key part of having a strong local economy and it is absolutely vital that we safeguard its future and ensure that it can continue to be used as an aviation and employment hub for the Fylde coast for the long term.

‘We do not envisage the return of large scale passenger planes to the airport. The purpose of this acquisition is to safeguard the helicopter and other commercial airside activities that take place, build upon them and deliver our overall objective of creating up to 5,000 jobs on the Enterprise Zone site.’

#Income generation

Analysis

10 ways councils are making budgets go further

Discover 10 ways councils are stretching budgets further, from digital transformation and energy efficiency to community partnerships and data-driven decision-making.

Opinion

Without reform, no Budget can fix local government

Joanne Pitt, CIPFA Senior Policy Manager, argues the Autumn Budget must pair funding decisions with long-term reform to secure local government’s future.

Most Popular News

Staff left reeling after LGA restructure plans

Local government leaders recognised in 2026 New Year honours list

Union warns of more equal pay claims as payouts rise above £1bn

National recruitment campaign for local government launched

Councils that boycott Israel could face legal action, Reed warns

New Products

Bolton Council Upgrades 120+ School Crossings with Smart CMS Control by Lucy Zodion

NEC CONTRACTS HAS GONE DIGITAL: PAPERLESS, TO GIVE YOU MORE

Vent-Axia Delivers Social Housing a Smart Ventilation Solution Ahead of Awaab’s Law

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

UK-first tool developed by Bluesky scores areas green credentials to aid urban planners

New partnership drives improved air quality and healthier homes in social housing

ShuttleID launches 90-day free trial for local authorities

Case Studies

Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge

Acrospire Delivers PIR-Controlled Lighting at Ruislip Lido Car Park

Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street revitalised using Thorn Lighting’s Thor Lanterns and Customisable Gobo Projectors

Acrospire Partners with Bath & North East Somerset Council to Illuminate Historic Film Location with LED Upgrade

Believ to install 22 charge points across Redcar and Cleveland

Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting

Croydon Council selects integrated corporate GIS to improve efficiencies

Company Anouncements

Acrospire triumphs at the 2025 HEA Awards with Sustainable Project of the Year

TRT Lighting retrofit helps Lincolnshire County Council cut street lighting energy use by over 65%

Vent-Axia Welcomes Healthy Homes Standard

Vent-Axia Helps Tackle Condensation and Mould this World Ventilation Day

Airtech Calls For Urgent Government Action to Support Radon Awareness Week

Vent-Axia’s New Smart Fan Helps Landlords Stay Ahead of Awaab’s Law

Lucy Zodion recognised as sustainability leader with Build Back Better GREEN Award for HAWK3

FM Hard Services and Accommodations Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

£43,545 - £59,220 per annum

Join a progressive and results-driven Corporate Facilities Management (FM) team, delivering high-quality services across approximately 300 buildings within Richmond and Wandsworth. Our remit encompasses a broad range of critical functions, including

Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth