Last week, Nikal Ltd and Media Invest Entertainment submitted a planning application for the first phase of Blackpool Central, which includes a car park with 1,306 spaces and proposals to create a Heritage Quarter.
Blackpool Central’s future phases comprise a public square for live events, hotels, F&B and three indoor entertainment centres. One of these indoor theme parks was going to be based on Von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods?
However, Place North West reports that Blackpool Central has dropped the Chariots of the Gods IP and will no longer be using it for an indoor theme park spread across 126,000 square feet.
£300m destination drops theme park IP
This comes after market research found that the Chariots of the Gods IP doesn’t appeal to younger audiences. Nikal Ltd director Richard Fee said the attraction will now be called Blackpool Central Indoor Entertainment Park.
Media Invest Entertainment owns the rights to Chariots of the Gods, which will still be used in the theme park’s attractions, rides and content. The decision to drop the IP does not impact Media Invest’s involvement in the project.
Blackpool Central’s planning application was submitted after a public consultation with the local community, with 90 percent expressing support for the £300m destination.
“This is a watershed moment for Blackpool Central,” said Fee. “The overwhelmingly positive response to our consultation shows the level of excitement and enthusiasm around the scheme.”
Plans submitted for Blackpool Central
“We have taken a major step towards creating one of the UK’s most exciting destinations with this application submission,” said Norbert Reichart, CEO of Media Invest.
“The consultation has also given us lots of food for thought for how we shape the future phases of Blackpool Central and maximise its pulling power,” Reichart added.
Located at the former Blackpool Central train station, the project is expected to attract an additional 600,000 yearly guest and boost annual spend in the town by £75m. Blackpool Council will make a decision on the application later this year.
Images: Nikal Ltd/Media Invest Entertainment
