Verdict finally in on plans to demolish hotels for apartments on South Shore seafront

Proposals to demolish two hotels and replace them with 51 modern apartments on Blackpool’s South Shore promenade have finally been approved by planners.

The plans are part of an ambitious, multi-million pound project aimed at revitalising part of the promenade south of Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort and will see a total of 92 apartments built.

The overall scheme will see developers recreate the original crescent which will bring together the north and south ends of a terrace which will involve the completion of the extension to the Hampton by Hilton between them.

Two new gleaming white properties featuring the apartments at either end will bookend the development.

In November last year, the south end of the development, entailing the demolition of the Headlands Hotel and the erection of a new block with 41 apartments, was approved by planners.

Now an application to develop the slightly larger north end, which will see the demolition of the Colwyn Hotel, Skye Hotel and Sandpiper Apartments and 51 new apartments built, has been approved, more than three years after being submitted.

They will be replaced with a ‘high-quality’ mixture of 1,2 and 3 bedroom apartments.

The apartments will also benefit from balconies or terraces, with each apartment having its own dedicated parking space on site.

The proposals were put forward by Coastway Ltd and Headlands Ltd, who say the development would continue the regeneration of South Shore near the Pleasure Beach.

Development on the crescent has already taken place with a new 130-room Hampton by Hilton built in 2016, and in 2020 planning permission was granted for a £7 million extension to the hotel.

Lancashire-based David Cox Architects have designed the development and planning consultancy Smith & Love are advising on the scheme.

Deborah Smith, co-founder of Smith & Love, previously said of the proposals: “Blackpool is experiencing a renaissance, and there’s a demand for high-quality residential accommodation, which the New South Promenade development will provide.

“Two contemporary apartment buildings will provide high-quality homes for people helping stimulate the local economy and play a part in creating a sense of place with a diverse but active community.

“New South Promenade will also complement the ongoing regeneration of Blackpool itself while playing an essential role in revitalising the crescent and attracting people to live and work in the town.”

Director David Cox added: “The scheme will reinvent this important part of Blackpool’s promenade. The two sites, north and south, will act as bookends to the crescent and help bring about much-needed quality residential spaces.”