Hayden and Emma led on the preparation of a five case business case in line with Green Book Assessment methodology to assess options for the acquisition and future delivery of Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool as part of Blackpool Council’s successful Future High Streets Fund bid. 

Identifying a strategic need to broaden the markets’ appeal to attract new audiences, support the evening economy and deliver a broad range of socioeconomic benefits, a long and short list of options were produced to create a robust and well-evidenced case for intervention. 

The preferred scheme scored highly on benefit-cost analysis, involving the purchase and investment in the market to introduce diverse uses including a new food hall, meanwhile and event space, performances and community uses alongside an anchor food retail and independent retail offer. 

Hayden and Emma prepared detailed commercial and financial business cases, working alongside the economic development team, procurement officers, architectural and QS specialisms to demonstrate the viability and financial benefits of the preferred scheme.

A management case was prepared to demonstrate that the scheme was deliverable within the budgets and timeframe indicated. 

Blackpool Council went on to be successful in their FHSF bid, with the market now fully open and trading, operated in partnership with private sector company Little Blackpool Leisure Company. The food hall alone has created forty jobs, with the second phase of the market launched in November 2023 introducing twelve independent retailers, pop-up market and community events, live performances and evening entertainment.