New battle ahead for Terrace Bar next to Central Pier as it fights for its future

An enforcement notice has been authorised in relation to the Terrace Bar, next to Central Pier, with the action now rubber stamped by the council’s Planning Committee.

The notice relates to ‘unauthorised use of the land for the siting of anoutdoor bar with seating area, decking, balustrading, containers and canopy’.

The next step would be to issue the enforcement notice, which is among four authorised in July.

It comes after The Blackpool Pier Company lost its appeal after challenging a decision by the council to refuse planning permission for the venue which has operated for a number of years.

Retrospective planning permission for the venue which is said to raise vital revenue for the upkeep of the historic pier, was sought after it was discovered in May 2021 that no planning permission was in place.

The venue is expected to challenge any enforcement action under rules which state some developments which have been in place for more than four years are immune from requiring planning permission.

The retrospective planning application was turned down by the council’s planning committee in October 2022, after planning officers warned it represented “poor quality, piecemeal development on the western side of the tram tracks.”

But documents submitted by the Blackpool Pier Company in support of its appeal said the bar was ” encouraging visits to the pier; providing a more enjoyable holistic experience of the pier by providing refreshment; marketing the pier and so on.”