The council executive will discuss plans for the new facility on Monday, and if approved will formally submit bids for external funding for a new conference venue on the former split level car park site on Leopold Grove.

The new venue will house a conference hall for 2,000 delegates, a 130,000 sq ft of exhibition hall with break-out spaces and catering facilities.

The new building will be directly linked to both the Empress Ballroom and the Opera House to form a flexible venue with joint capacities of up to seven thousand.  While it’s unlikely all the spaces will be in use at any one time for conferencing, this flexibility puts Blackpool squarely back in the major league conference market.

Architect Bissett Adams worked up the outline scheme, which has now been submitted for planning. Construction materials will be agreed at a later stage but the architect is currently exploring options around cast terracotta and ceramic finishes which are a direct reference to the materials of which the rest of the complex is built.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The recent demolition of the car park at the Winter Gardens has provided a rare opportunity to build on land the Council already owns and which directly connects to two of our most iconic venues.

“Much of the detail is yet to be resolved – but behind the scenes we have been talking to agencies like Historic England to make sure the development of designs protects the historic significance of the building whilst delivering the biggest economic impact possible.

“Through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and the Lancashire Combined Authority, I am hopeful that we can gain up to £20 million in funding towards construction costs – but these are highly competitive bidding processes, which will need support from businesses and other councils across Lancashire.”