MP secures Chancellor meeting over regeneration plans for South Shore

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb says he has secured a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss long-term investment and regeneration in South Shore – one of the most deprived areas in the country.

The meeting is to be held after the MP highlighted South Shore’s issues in Parliament.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Webb highlighted the urgent need for targeted intervention in South Shore, pointing out “it’s got the highest concentration of deprived communities and also the most deprived ward in the country”.

He highlighted the recently produced South Shore People’s Plan, which outlines the community’s priorities for regeneration in the area including improving high streets and housing and asked: “Will my right honourable friend, the Chancellor, agree to meet with me to discuss this plan so we can regenerate the most deprived area in this country?”

Responding, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “I thank my honourable friend for that question. And we were pleased to be able to allocate Pride in Place funding to my right honourable friend’s constituency in recognition of the levels of deprivation  and investing record amounts in social housing.  This government is delivering for the people of Blackpool, and I’m very happy to meet my honourable friend.”

Mr Webb says the meeting will mark a major step in his campaign to bring serious government attention and investment to Waterloo Road, Bond Street and Lytham Road, areas that have suffered long-term neglect, declining retail, poor housing conditions and complex social challenges.

The MP has already brought some of the most senior figures in Government to South Shore, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, to see first-hand the decline along Waterloo Road and Bond Street.

Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh is also expected  to visit South Shore in the coming weeks. That visit will focus on how immediate improvements to South Shore’s high streets and public spaces can be delivered at pace.

South Shore is already benefiting from regeneration work, with more expected imminently via the £1.5m Pride in Place Impact Fund. A new council-led Masterplan is providing a coordinated blueprint for redevelopment while the People’s Plan, developed by Empowerment Charity, sets out 47 resident-led actions to improve safety, housing, public spaces, youth provision, employment, retail and cohesion

Mr Webb said: “I’m delighted that the Chancellor has agreed to meet with me to discuss the future of South Shore. We are talking about the most deprived community in the country – and we now have a masterplan, a People’s Plan, and a united community voice telling us what needs to happen next.

“South Shore has huge potential. With the right investment, working with residents, businesses and Blackpool Council, we can transform it into a vibrant, safe and thriving place once again. I will keep pushing until we get the change our community deserves.”