‘We fear we’ll be left broke by housing regeneration scheme move’

A Blackpool woman fears being left broke if her home is sold to the council and demolished as part of a controversial regeneration scheme.

Anna Penfold-Sadler’s concern is that the money being offered by Blackpool Council will not be enough to buy a like-for-like property.

Anna, of Rydal Avenue, lives with her partner at a three bedroom property which is still on a mortgage.

She is desperately hoping that support being offered by Blackpool Council to property-owners facing being left out-of-pocket by the Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration project at Revoe can help.

Blackpool Council plans to demolish around 300 older properties off the Central Drive area and replace them with up to 230 new, high-quality, energy-efficient homes as part of the regeneration project.

Anna says her concern is that the £85,000 she says she is being offered by the council for their home, plus £15,000 compensation, will not be enough to offer a like-for like home.

To date, the council has acquired 56 properties, exchanged contracts on a further six, and has another 99 purchases either agreed or progressing through the legal process.

Engagement with property owners has been ongoing since March 2025, with contact made with around 97 per cent of identified legal interests in the project area.

The council is offering a range of support and this Wednesday’s Shareholder Committee will consider measures to help home owners who feel they cannot sell their homes to the council and move on because they will be left financially worse off.

The report says that one focus is “on households where the main barrier to voluntary sale is financial circumstances, supported by evidence that selling their home to the Council for the market value would leave them unable to purchase a reasonable and comparable replacement property in a reasonable and comparable area – even when statutory compensation is applied.”

It adds: “Discretionary financial assistance is intended solely to address evidenced financial disadvantage and will not be used as a substitute for non-financial support needs.”

Anna, who says much of her street is now boarded up, said: “We have spent a lot of money on the house and are also paying off a £47,000 mortgage.

“We’ve looked at other properties comparable to this, in our area, and they would cost around £120,000. We can’t afford it.

“And if the house is cheaper, it would be because it will need lots of work, so we’ll still be out of pocket.

“Our fear is that we could end up in a house which is not inhabitable.

“We don’t want to move out of this area, it’s where our lives are. The council say they will help people so we’ll hear what they have to say. It’s a big worry for us.”

She has been a major objector to the housing scheme and argued that the homes should have been renovated rather than demolished.

The Central Housing Regeneration Project is part of Blackpool’s wider ambition to improve housing quality and life chances for residents living in the town’s inner area. The project is supported by £90.4 million of funding secured through Homes England and aims to create high-quality homes and new public space.

The Shareholder Committee report highlights progress in assembling land for future redevelopment.

Cllr Dave Flanagan, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We are committed to delivering transformational change in central Blackpool and creating better quality homes and neighbourhoods for current and future generations.

“At the same time, we recognise that regeneration can be a significant change for people who live and work in the area.

“These proposals are about providing clear information, practical help and additional support where needed to ensure residents, businesses and property owners are treated fairly and respectfully throughout the process.”