PLANNING approval has been granted for an ambitious scheme to turn the home of Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet into a nationally-significant and family-orientated heritage attraction.
Built in 1935, the tram shed at BlackpoolTransport’s Rigby Road site, marketed as BlackpoolTramtown, has proved consistently popular since opening its doors to visitors for guided tours in September 2021, but the longer term aim, scheduled to take five to seven years to complete, is its redevelopment into what is described by Blackpool Transport’s head of heritage Bryan Lindop as an“adventure driven”visitor destination.
It aims to showcase the 138-year history of tramcars and tram operations in the area. As well as remaining the base for the tram collection, it will include an exhibition area, viewing galleries, a cafe, retail areas, historical archives and conference and educational facilities.
The workshops, which are to be moved from their current location nearby as part of changes to the wider site to accommodate new bus fleet engineering facilities for the company, will form one of the centrepieces of the transformed building.Visitors will be able to see the work involved in restoring and maintaining the trams, many of which were first shedded there when new.
Vision