BUILT ENVIRONMENT By Ged Henderson and Rob Kelly
BUILDING THE CASE FOR MORE GROWTH
Lancashire’s new Growth Plan and the role of the built environment in boosting the county’s economy were put at the heart of a summit attended by industry professionals.
The challenge of the ‘viability gap’ between the total cost of a development and its projected market value or revenue that is preventing some programmes from seeing the light of day, was also put under the microscope.
And the influence of the net zero agenda was also a topic for debate at Lancashire’s Built Environment Summit.
The specially invited audience, which also included experts from further and higher education, examined the skills challenges facing the sector.
Other areas discussed and debated included planning and support for the supply chain and the impact an elected mayor can have on funding and decision making.
The summit, which took place at Blackpool football club’s Bloomfield Road stadium, had the title ‘Get Lancashire Building’.
Coun Brian Moore, cabinet member for economic development and growth at County Hall, talked about what the new combined
authority’s growth plan means for housing, infrastructure and regeneration.
He described it as “a growth plan for the whole of Lancashire” and added: “Infrastructure is central to the plan. We have to create jobs but we have also need to get people to them.”
Looking at skills, Sarah Hall, director of B&FC for Business at Blackpool and The Fylde College, said rapid changes being witnessed meant there was a growing need to re-skill and upskill people quickly.
She added: “We need to ensure we have pipeline for our young people and that there are opportunities for them.”
Sarah told the summit the challenge was attracting young people into the built environment sector, “because it is not always seen to be as innovative as it should be.”
And she added: “We need to tackle that challenge and look at how we get them interested in careers.”
John Chesworth, senior partner at law firm Harrison Drury and member of the Lancashire County Combined Authority’s business board, spoke of the important role of the built environment sector in shaping the future of the county.
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He said the built environment plays “a massive part”, through its ambition, in making Lancashire somewhere young people want to commit their futures to.
And he told delegates: “Young people are saying, ‘we want to stay here, we want to see our careers here, but we want to see ambition from the place’.”
Alan Cavill, Blackpool Council’s director of communications and regeneration, highlighted the work going on in the town and its formula for delivery.
He said: “We are doing a lot in Blackpool and that is fantastic. It wasn’t easy and it didn’t happen overnight.”
Alan said four things were needed for success: “A big plan, big commitment, a big team and a big amount of money.”
He added: “You also need time and you have to keep plugging away. Know what your priorities are, but be flexible.
“We benefited from hundreds of millions of pounds of funding because we had things ready to go. A big thing to remember is this is not free and it is not cheap.”
EXHIBITOR:
2026 CATEGORIES
AI and Tech Innovation Award NEW Built Environment Award Commitment to Skills Award
Creative Business Award NEW Customer Service Award
Deal of the Year Award NEW Design Award Digital Award
Employer of the Year Award
Environmental, Social and Governance Award Export Award
Family Business Award Large Business Award Made in Lancashire Award Medium Business Award Micro Business Award New Business Award Not-for-profit Award
Professional Services Award Scale-Up Award Small Business Award
Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Award Transformation Award
Transport and Logistics Award LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
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