Fleetwood back in business as Lord Street fully reopens following devastating ex-catalogue store blaze
“Every pound spent on the high street helps keep Fleetwood thriving.”
Fleetwood has been declared “open for business” after restrictions on Lord Street were lifted following safety work at the fire-damaged former Ex Catalogue Store.
Wyre Council has urged people to support local businesses in the town, saying the reopening of Lord Street means businesses affected by the restrictions can now resume trading as normal. The council said immediate work to ensure the former catalogue building is safe has now been completed, allowing the road to fully reopen to all traffic, including buses.
Blackpool Transport has also completed additional inspections and safety checks and has resumed tram services.
In a message encouraging people to return to the town centre, Wyre Council said: “With Lord Street fully reopened and restrictions lifted, it's time to show some love to our fantastic local businesses.”
The council also highlighted the challenges faced by independent shops, cafés and other businesses during the closure and encouraged residents and visitors to shop, eat and spend locally. “Every pound spent on the high street helps keep Fleetwood thriving,” it said, with the reopening following months of disruption after the building was severely damaged by fire in June 2026.
The building changed ownership twice since the incident and, following its most recent transfer of ownership, Wyre Council served the new owners notice to carry out essential safety measures including the erection of structural scaffolding to enable repair works and protect members of the public.
The council said Lord Street could not be fully reopened until the scaffolding had been properly erected and the necessary repairs completed. With those immediate safety measures now in place, the restrictions have been lifted and affected businesses are able to trade as normal.
The reopening also restores access for buses and follows the completion of additional safety checks by Blackpool Transport, allowing tram services to resume. Wyre Council is now encouraging people to return to Fleetwood's high street and support the local businesses that faced disruption during the closure.