Hotel to be converted to homes

Blackpool Council planners have agreed a scheme for the empty New Progress Hotel on New South Promenade to be converted to residential use.

The property has been boarded up for some time.

It is proposed to convert it to 10 two bedroomed flats, a three bedroomed penthouse suite and two maisonettes.

A design brief accompanying the application says: “It is felt the significant benefits of a substantial investment in a long term vacant and deteriorating property on one of the main routes into the town far outweighs the lack of provision of off street parking.”

The report adds the building has not been used as a hotel for some years.

It says: “Although having been marketed by local and national agencies for many years, there has been little interest shown and it has been slowly deteriorating to a point where the internal accommodation is completely uninhabitable.”

“Planners approved the scheme using delegated powers.

“They said the changes would “bring the property back into productive use and restore the original 
frontage.”