One of the world's largest indoor illumination experiences, Illuminasia, will open in Olympia Arena at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, UK on 18 April. The £3m investment means the 45,000sq ft (4,180sq m) space inside Olympia Arena will be made into six family-friendly zones, illuminated by 35,000 lights using Chinese lantern crafts and LED bulbs. Investors - Shanghai's Yi Sai Culture Communication, International Special Attractions Ltd and Global Entertainment Productions

Blackpool Council has reopened the resort's historic Winter Gardens to the public ahead of the February half term break, following a £1.25m overhaul. Conservation architects Donald Insall Associates have carried out restoration work on behalf of the council, which acquired the attraction in March 2010. The Grade II-listed building's Church Street entrance has been resorted as part of the work, along with improvements to the Rotunda and the Floral Hall.

Construction work is due to commence on Blackpool's new £4m Southpoint Youth Hub, which has received funding from the government's myplace initiative. The demolition of an old building on the site next to Palatine School has already started, with the build process expected to get underway in January. Facilities at the new youth hub will allow local young people to participate in a number of arts, music and sports activities,

Blackpool Council has appointed Donald Insall Associates to start work on the first stage of restoration work at the Grade II-listed Winter Gardens. The London-based conservation architect has been selected to revamp the Floral Hall and to open up the venue to visitors as part of phase one of the scheme. Existing features will be refurbished and the entrance located on Church Street and Coronation Street will be restored. New