LOOKING FOR A HOME WIN
The regeneration of Blackpool goes beyond new office buildings and attracting high-tech digital businesses to the airport enterprise zone.
The town has some of the most deprived local authority wards in the country. Poor housing plays a major part and is a major challenge.
It is a situation that has been recognised nationally. The town was awarded £90m of government cash earlier this year for housing regeneration in its inner areas.
The first phase of what has been described as a transformational 20-year vision will focus on deprived neighbourhoods sitting behind the resort’s famous Golden Mile.
They have been identified as the initial areas of focus for detailed scheme development, community engagement and property acquisitions in preparation for future development.
A report to the council’s executive earlier this year said: “Blackpool’s most acute deprivation statistics are intrinsically linked to private housing failure in this inner urban area. Partners acknowledge that it is now time to bring forward regeneration and investment at scale to reverse the cycle of worsening outcomes.”
Housing improvements could include selective clearance, refurbishment, enforcement action, and investment in energy efficiency upgrades.
Council leader Lynn Williams has described the project as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” She 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.”
Martin Long, who heads the Blackpool and Fylde office of Napthens solicitors and chairs the Blackpool Business Leadership Group, is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge.
He says: “Blackpool has two or three of the most deprived local authority wards in the country but there’s an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes to address those issues.
“When it comes to the £90m grant from central government the funding agreement has been signed and that will be directed to intervene in the housing issues in the inner area of the town.
“Consultation and engagement processes have started; we’ll see the changes that will affect over the coming years.”
Australian John Sullivan is the businessman behind the resort’s newly opened Backlot Cinema and Diner in the Houndshill shopping centre.
Continued on Page 26
Spotlight
HELPING BUSINESSES RAISE THEIR
ASPIRATIONS by Angela Kershaw,
head of business growth, Blackpool Council
As someone whose job is to help drive growth and sustainability in Blackpool, I often talk to business owners who are looking to grow their companies or are looking to understand and reduce their carbon footprint and don’t know where to turn for help.
I think there’s often an assumption that serious business support is only something you find in big cities. But it’s not. It’s here. And it’s already supported a constant flow of companies since we launched in 2023.
Since launching two major new initiatives – The Blackpool Growth Business Academy and the Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy – we’ve been helping SMEs to not only achieve their growth and sustainability targets, but also to shift their mindset – to realise that more is possible, that they can pursue more ambitious goals.
Our two new academies are part of a broader effort to foster economic development and environmental responsibility within the community.
We have already seen the successes, and the positive impact they have had on the local business community.
We’ve been helping SMEs to pursue more ambitious goals
We are supporting companies in developing robust growth strategies, creating new job opportunities, identifying energy savings and making meaningful progress towards carbon reduction.
But one of the most notable achievements is that many are now setting more ambitious goals, recognising that reaching significant milestones – such as becoming a £1m or £5m business – is within their grasp.
This growing confidence is helping to drive the local economy forward. The optimism is infectious, and it’s only just the beginning.
I encourage Blackpool businesses, whether starting, scaling or lowering their carbon footprint, to explore the resources we have available and to see how they can be part of Blackpool’s growing success story.
Our initiatives are fully funded by Blackpool Council and the UK Government, meaning that every eligible company can access our audits, insight, advice and support.
Backlot Cinema
www.blackpoolunlimited.com LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
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IN VIEW
BLACKPOOL & FYLDE
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