Hoardings are now in place promoting a controversial housing regeneration scheme in Blackpool’s Revoe area.
Parts of Central Drive now have giant posters proclaiming ‘cleaner, greener spaces’, ‘stronger communities’ and ‘more things to do’.
The new hoardings send out a clear message that Blackpool Council is looking to press ahead with its Central Housing regeneration scheme, an ambitious but highly contentious initiative to demolish approximately 300–400 Victorian terraced homes and replace them with around 230–280 modern, energy-efficient houses.
Backed by over £90 million funding from the previous Conservative regime and Homes England, the project is expected to go before Blackpool’s planning committee in the near future.
The Council says its long-term plan will transform an area off Central Drive, boarded by a ‘red line’, by improving living conditions, reducing antisocial behaviour, and removing “poor quality” housing, including both rented and owner-occupied properties.
But residents whose homes face demolition are furious and say they would rather their houses were renovated instead of being bulldozed. Many are concerned about losing out financially, especially if they cannot afford to buy another house, and worried about where they will go.
Last month protesters gathered outside Blackpool Town Hall, in Talbot Square, to make their feelings known to Blackpool Council just as a planning meeting was due to take place, and caused the session to be adjourned once inside the building.
One of the residents, Anna Penfold, said: “The council aren’t listening so we’ll keep protesting like this until they do.”
They have been supported by the Acorn Community Union, Revoe Together and the Rev Matt Lockwood, of the nearby Beacon Community Church, who called the housing project “a mass dispersion of vulnerable people”.
But Deputy Leader, Cllr Neal Brookes, said: “Home owners will be offered the market value for their homes and we understand there are a range of similar properties available, within or close to Revoe, on the market.
“We do know that a number of properties within the red line area for demolition are not fit for purpose and where children do not have enough space to do their homework, so they are falling behind at school and this will affect their life chances.
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