Blackpool Council submits plans for Central Drive housing regeneration
Proposal aims to rejuvenate area with new homes and community facilities
Blackpool Council has unveiled ambitious plans to transform Central Drive through new housing and neighbourhood developments, marking an effort to restore the area to its former glory.
A hybrid planning application has been submitted, aiming to demolish up to 300 outdated properties and introduce 230 modern, energy-efficient homes alongside shops, green spaces, community facilities, and flexible workspaces.
Located just south of the town centre, the proposal covers around 5.4 hectares on Central Drive and surrounding streets.
Councillor Lynn Williams, the Leader of Blackpool Council, declared the initiative a response to decades of calls for Central Drive's regeneration:
“Our major regeneration plans are aimed to make the area somewhere people want to raise their children in because of quality homes, nice streets, and play areas, reduced crime, lower energy bills and more jobs.”
The project supports broader efforts to elevate Central Drive, including prospective leisure schemes, increased social housing at Foxhall Village, and enhancements at Blackpool Football Club and Revoe Park.
More than 100 homeowners have agreed to sell their properties already, and those relocating are supported in finding suitable housing within the local area.
The proposal seeks outline planning consent for 230 social housing units, restoring a balance in the local housing market and catering to Blackpool residents with local connections.
Backed by £90.4 million from Homes England, awarded in March 2024, the scheme is part of the Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration Area Framework, aspiring to improve inner Blackpool over the next 15 years.
The council has engaged in comprehensive consultation since August 2024, with an Environmental Impact Assessment accompanying the application.
Pending approval, demolition and redevelopment will unfold in phases, presenting continuous opportunities for public involvement in detailed designs.
Residents affected by the scheme are encouraged to connect with the local support team at Ibbison Community Centre for advice and assistance.
For further details, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/housingregen .