Council to consider the plan for next steps towards major housing regeneration in central Blackpool

Blackpool Council is to consider a report asking for approval to enter into a grant funding agreement with Homes England.

If approved, the agreement will enable the release of £90m awarded in March 2024 for housing regeneration in the inner areas of Blackpool.

The report also sets out key activity that will take place over the next three years and the longer term principles that will achieve transformational housing regeneration in the inner parts of Blackpool, providing residents with good quality modern homes in desirable neighbourhoods.

The executive report to be considered on 20 May outlines an area of regeneration to the South of the town centre broadly between Chapel Street and Rigby Road, and the Promenade and Central Drive corridor. These have been identified as the initial areas of focus for detailed scheme development, community engagement and property acquisitions in preparation for future development.

The report suggests that Blackpool Housing Company (BHC) should be the delivery partner for this housing regeneration work being the Council’s wholly owned housing regeneration organisation.

The report also acknowledges that although housing regeneration could commence in almost any part of the inner area of Blackpool, the initial focus will be within the central intervention area.

The long-term ambition is to create new, high quality and sustainable neighbourhoods within the inner area that provide a range of housing types and tenure and meets local need.

The report also suggests that further masterplanning and scheme preparation in the South Shore and Claremont areas is undertaken in anticipation of further capital funding.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council said: “Housing-led regeneration across the whole of Blackpool’s inner area is the long-term ambition with this first phase of regeneration seen as the starting point for transformational change.

“We want to provide homes that are modern, comfortable, desirable and meets the needs of local people in Blackpool, both those that live here now but also those that may want to move here in the future.

“The benefits of this huge scale investment are clear to see. There will be economic benefits such as increased job creation; environment benefits such as energy efficient housing, new public open spaces and, most importantly, social benefits such as housing that is suitable for the 21^st Century.

“This large-scale regeneration will provide a better mix of housing, new affordable housing, better health outcomes, a reduction in homelessness and temporary accommodation, and a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour through well designed, built and managed public and private spaces.

“We are just at the beginning of a 15-20 year project and I am really excited and passionate about it, but we cannot do it without the input from the residents of Blackpool. We need to work with them throughout this whole process from the beginning to the end.

“It is now critical to draw out opinion and information from within the community. This represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enable systematic and transformational change in both the fabric of Blackpool and most importantly in the quality and mix of housing in this part of the inner area of Blackpool”.

Subject to approval by the council’s executive it is anticipated that a first round of public consultation will be undertaken later this year. Initial consultation will focus on information sharing with the community, to outline the rationale for regeneration and area of focus. It will seek comments and feedback on the broad vision for regeneration and the key principles which will frame the development of detailed proposals and ultimately shape the ongoing regeneration in this area over the years to come.