LDA Design has been chosen as the winners of an international design competition, led by ReBlackpool, which generated entries from all over the world, including Paris, Amsterdam and Austria.

The winning concept provides a vision for the redevelopment of the sea walls and the construction of six new headlands, which pays homage to Blackpool’s history but firmly places the resort on a modern world stage.

Robert Aspland, Associate Director of LDA Design, comments: “The brief for the project, dubbed the People’s Playground, called for something that would excite and amaze residents and visitors alike; the creation of a place of escape and fantasy.

“Inspired by the otherworldiness of Gulliver’s travels and the strange landscapes of Japanese animated film, we have created an incredible surreal dunescape which will become a playground for all.  At dusk a virtual landscape will emerge from the dunes and high above this a spectacular and unique aerial light show will be created – ‘the Northern Lights’.”

ReBlackpool will now work with LDA Design and its partners Speirs and Major Associates and lighting artist Chris Levine and Gardiner & Theobald in finalising its submission for The People’s

Playground to Big Lottery’s Living Landmarks Programme. The programme is awarding £140 million across the UK to initiatives, such as the People’s Playground, designed to inspire communities to transfer, revitalise and regenerate the places where they live.

Heather Emery, Head of Design and the Built Environment at the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and a member of the judging panel, said: "Our hope now is that the winning design will become as much a part of Blackpool's scenery and history as its other iconic landmarks. The aim from the outset was to provide a thrilling spectacle to stop people in their tracks and the judging panel believes this has been achieved. The winning design will be a credit to Blackpool, fostering creativity in the area while continuing to build on the agency's aim to improve the quality of public spaces in the Northwest's towns and cities."

A further public exhibition and consultation exercise is being held at The Solaris Centre, New South Promenade, Blackpool from 26th - 30th July 2007. This will be a further opportunity for people to get involved in the project and even tell us their favourite comedy catchphrases, the most popular of which will be immortalised in the 'comedy carpet' which will be a major feature on the tower headland