A 拢200m plan for Blackpool鈥檚 annual illuminations to be powered by offshore wind energy is being drawn up by the council.

The plan was revealed by Sir Peter Hall, the chair of regeneration company ReBlackpool. Hall said Arup had prepared a feasibility study for the scheme, which is designed to provide the infrastructure for new, all-weather, zero-carbon tourist attractions for the resort, including the illuminations. He said: 鈥淲e could send on power for other towns inland, given what it鈥檚 like on a typical day on Blackpool鈥檚 seafront.鈥�

Hall said the idea would be that a private sector resort developer would contribute 拢150m of the cost, with the public sector paying the rest. He added that he was dissatisfied with the government鈥檚 拢300m regeneration package for the town, which doesn鈥檛 include funding for the wind farm.

This amount is to compensate Blackpool for its failure to secure a supercasino. He said: 鈥淚鈥檓 really disappointed. Except for the 拢110m tram upgrade, this is not new money.鈥�

Hall this week announced he will leave his post later this year after four years at the agency.

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