Town Hall bosses could force more people out of their homes under regeneration plans
PLUS: Why has VisitBlackpool spent £250,000 on Pleasure Beach tickets?
Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.
The focus today is on the plans to regenerate central Blackpool - one of the poorest areas in the entire country.
The work is important - but it could mean forcing people out of their homes. That’s something the council has recent experience with thanks to the Multiversity project and it doesn’t always run smoothly.
We also report on the money spent by the council’s tourism arm on tickets for the Pleasure Beach.
Blackpool Council could force more out of their homes for Central regeneration project
By Michael Holmes
Town hall bosses could force even more people out of their homes as part of ambitious plans to transform swathes of central Blackpool - one of the country’s poorest areas - to tackle poverty and dilapidation.
Residents in parts of Central Drive, Ashton Road, Salthouse Avenue, Rydal Avenue, Chadwick Street, Montrose Avenue and Erdington Road are at risk of being evicted if their properties are not sold voluntarily.
The revelation comes months after the council was granted powers, following a two-week public inquiry, to push the last residents out of their homes close to the proposed Multiversity site beside Sainsbury’s in the town centre.
There is no immediate threat for homeowners and tenants, however, with authority documents examined by The Blackpool Lead admitting it would be “premature to make a compulsory order at this time”.
But they add that “government guidance acknowledges that ‘if an acquiring authority waits for negotiations to break down before starting the compulsory purchase process, valuable time will be lost’ and that ‘undertaking negotiations in parallel with preparing and making a compulsory purchase order can help to build a good working relationship with those whose interests are affected by showing that the authority is willing to be open and treat their concerns with respect’.”
The plans in central Blackpool would take years to pull off, such is the scale of the challenge, but the end result will be a “desirable and sustainable neighbourhood that celebrates Blackpool’s unique heritage and setting”, the council’s masterplan promises.
Guesthouses-cum-bedsits and run-down terraced homes would be replaced by new, energy-efficient homes and green spaces - which should lead to less crime, healthier residents, less overcrowding in the private rented sector and less homelessness.
The CPO order would cover the “phase one” area, which has been dubbed “Little Romania” by some locals.
Council leader Lynn Williams said: “We are determined to deliver real change for our residents. Better housing has been an obsession of ours for years and that will not change.
“We are asking the executive to consider and agree, in principle, to using our compulsory purchase powers, should we need to. This is always a last resort but it is important that our intentions are clear and that should we need to use our compulsory purchase powers then all the right processes have been followed to be able to do that.
“This is the first step in that process. I understand that this is a very unsettling and difficult time for some people and we will do all we can to support residents directly affected. There will be regular face-to-face opportunities for people to come and talk to us should they want to.
“We also have a dedicated email, telephone number, web page and newsletter.
“The regeneration of this area is critical. It will not only provide better homes and more green spaces but it will also tackle social challenges like unemployment, health inequality and housing instability.
“I have said all along that we need our community's help and input with this huge regeneration project. I want to thank everyone who has been involved to date and would like to encourage everyone to give their views. “
The masterplan would take in excess of 15 years to pull off, council papers scrutinised by The Blackpool Lead show, with authority chiefs admitting “the delivery of this level of transformational change will be challenging and take time to achieve”.
Taxpayers’ cash, believed to be made up of £90.4m announced by the government last March, will initially be used to drive the massive project in the hope early efforts - which will including buying land and property, demolition, designing and holding public consultations - will encourage private investment, which would “demonstrate that we have succeeded in changing the local housing market”, documents say.
Dodgy landlords will also be targeted.
The masterplan says: “It is the council’s ambition to transform the housing market through redevelopment and refurbishment, creating a revitalised and sustainable neighbourhood that provides a choice of high-quality homes.”
It adds: “We know that we will need to find more public money and to attract private sector investment but this marks the start of our journey to ensure that our housing offer responds to our vision for growth and our commitment to support our residents.”
But what if more money from the public purse - or private ones - cannot be found?
Williams did answer directly when asked previously by The Lead but said in a statement: “We have worked really hard to grow our relationship with central government, Homes England and others so more people understand the very specific housing issues we face here in Blackpool. We have told our regeneration story far and wide and what we know can be done to help address some of Blackpool’s housing issues.
“We are now in a very good position; central government and Homes England understand Blackpool and are extremely supportive. This is how we have been able to attract the levels of funding to date and the ongoing support which we hope to have for many years to come.”
She continued: “We will see major positive transformation in housing in Blackpool over the coming years using funding we have secured. More importantly, we now have those relationships with public funders and improving relationships and awareness with the private sector.
“We are confident that this will continue.”
Cllr Paul Galley, leader of the opposition on the council, said the masterplan “presents a significant opportunity to reverse largely 30 years of Blackpool Labour Council’s decline”.
He said: “This council is unlikely to deliver meaningful results as it involves its two weakest areas: managing building projects and handling finances, and they will end up outsourcing this to organisations that do not understand Blackpool.”
Galley said his “heart sank” when he read about ambitions for a plaza at the “gateways (sic) to Central Drive” that “will create a practical sense of arrival into the core of the neighbourhood while celebrating this (sic) important buildings and creating spaces for events”.
The Anchorsholme councillor, who described urban regeneration as a passion of his, said: “This feels so disconnected from the needs of local residents.
“The outcome is predictable: millions wasted and minimal progress. Even the council’s own delivery report acknowledges the limited impact - two years of discussion, three years of piecemeal development and vague aspirations to attract private sector investment. Meanwhile, much of inner Blackpool will remain uncharged, if not in further decline.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way. This could be a turning point - a chance to initiate a transformative journey that brings real, positive change to Blackpool’s most disadvantaged areas, from Central Drive to Bond Street.”
Galley said the council could achieve this by hosting a private sector builders conference, inviting local building firms, property developers and estate agents to collaborate while exploring financial models to support them, establishing a Blackpool investment company, creating a local investment vehicle to allow investors of all sizes to contribute, partnering with the “right visionaries” and engaging with organisations such as the Kings Foundation and firms like Adam Architecture, which were key to designing Poundbury, a royal experimental urban extension on the outskirts of Dorchester in Dorset.
“This is a moment to be bold, to learn from successful models and to embrace innovative solutions,” Galley said.
“Blackpool deserves a plan that delivers real results, not just empty promises. With the right leadership, this initiative could mark the beginning of a brighter future for our central neighbourhoods.”
Williams said: “The regeneration framework outlines the initial area we will be focusing on. It is 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.
“Specific properties/land have not yet been identified; this is expected to be decided in the coming weeks. However, we have already started engagement with properties in the wider area and nearly 3,000 homes have been visited and asked to fill out a questionnaire and share their views.
“A questionnaire is also available on the council’s website for people to give information and their views. A formal consultation on the next steps is planned for early this year.”
Asked about dangerous homes uncovered during inspections, the council leader said the authority has “used all powers and tools available to us under the Housing Act to take enforcement action against landlords and/or agents”.
She added: “Last year we also applied to the Secretary of State to set up a new wider selective licensing scheme in inner Blackpool covering approximately 11,000 private rented properties. This scheme has been agreed and will come into force on April 1.
The plans are unusual because they would see homes right in the middle of the town centre and, if approved, could set a precedent for further developments there.
The council will be running drop-in events to consult with residents in central Blackpool who may be affected.
It will also have a “pop-up shop” in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.
Those living in the area, or those with properties or businesses there, can call 01253 477477 and ask for the central housing engagement team. Emails can also be sent to housingcentralregen@blackpool.gov.uk
Last summer, residents living in some of the 72 properties set to be demolished to make way for the Multiversity spoke to The Blackpool Lead about the harsh reality of the challenges they faced as a result of the project.
Blackpool Council was accused of 'insidious' tactics to force sale of home before young dad's death
They also criticised the council for a perceived lack of support.
Around 60% of the 60 two-and-three storey residential properties - some of which had been divided into flats - and 12 businesses had been sold or were in the process of being sold.
Talks were under way with the remaining 40%, some of whom formally objected, forcing the issue to a public inquiry.
But the inquiry went in the authority’s favour, seeing those continuing to live on the square parcel of land, between Cookson Street, Milbourne Street, George Street and Grosvenor Street, turfed out against their will.
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VisitBlackpool spends £250,000 on Pleasure Beach tickets - to sell at the same price
By Michael Holmes
VisitBlackpool, the council’s tourism arm, has spent £250,000 on Pleasure Beach tickets to sell on its website at the same price as the attraction charges on its own site.
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