Council meeting’s emotive debate on controversial multi-million pound Revoe regeneration scheme in Blackpool
“I fully understand why people are concerned when they are being asked to contemplate significant change in the area where they live”
Blackpool Council was urged to rethink its controversial multi-million pound regeneration proposals for the Revoe area when the issue came up for discussion again at a busy council meeting.
The Full Council session at Blackpool Town Hall on Wednesday saw three members of the public take their opportunity to speak at the meeting about the ambitious but contentious demolition, redesign and rebuild plans.
And William Banks, Anna Penfold Sadler and Chris Russell did not hold back, supported by a packed public gallery.
All three speakers addressed the issue of the Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration Scheme , in which the council plans to regenerate the Revoe area, one of the most deprived wards in the country, with a scheme that includes knocking down 300 homes and building 230 modern houses, with enhanced green infrastructure.
However, Council Leader, Cllr Lynn Wililams, told them that the home refurbishments alone, which they advocated instead, could never deliver the complete regeneration that Revoe, including part of Central Drive, so desperately needed. The project would not be so much about demolition but a transformation which would make the whole area better for residents.
The council says this scheme, using £90m from the Homes England Scheme, will solve the problem of poor housing and tackle the deprivation which is holding the area back. A hybrid planning application has now been lodged with planners . If approved, demolition work would begin in phases, with new homes and much-improved public spaces delivered over several years
But the project has been met with bitter anger and concern by a large number of residents who don’t want their homes to be bulldozed, and by those who are sympathetic to their cause.
I urge you to pause
Mr Banks, who does not reside in Revoe but has family connections to the area, was the opening speaker and said: “I’m here before you tonight to address the Revoe redevelopment project.
“Blackpool Council currently has a waiting list of anywhere up to 15,000 people for social housing. How can this council justify the destruction of valuable homes when thousands of our own citizens are desperate for a roof over their heads?
“Instead of bulldozing these houses, they should be retro-fitted, refurbished and brought into use to address the housing emergency that plagues our town.
“To demolish these properties, while our waiting list grows, is an act of gross negligence. It is an inefficient ue of resources and a betrayal of the people who elected you to manage their town.
“True planning is about preserving the best of what we have, not erasing out history to make way for schemes that serve developers rather than our residents.
“I urge this council to pause. I urge you to re-evaluate the Masterplan. Stop the demolition and start refurbishment. Use these houses to house our people, preserve our local heritage and prove that this council values its community more than it values a bulldozer.
“In the middle of a housing crisis you are proposing to knock down houses that, according to your own team five years ago, are strong ad perfectly usable. They can be repaired at a fraction of the cost of £90m it would take to knock them down.
“Prove to the people whose lives you wish to destroy that you care, by going back to the Masterplan and making Revoe the best that it can be.”
Leader’s response
Cllr Williams responded: “I want to firstly acknowledge that for property owners, residents and business affected by these proposals, this is an emotional and incredibly difficult process.
“I fully understand why people are concerned when they are being asked to contemplate significant change in the area where they live, work or own property.
“However, I do not agree with the suggestion that simply refurbishing the existing housing stock would achieve the transformation that this area needs.
“The reality is that this part of Revoe contains some of the poorest quality housing in Blackpool. It is an area dominated by the private rental sector, with around 80 per cent of the properties privately rented.
“It has experienced long term challenges relating to housing quality, environmental conditions and community sustainability.
“The council has not arrived at this position lightly.
“Since the project commenced, the council’s dedicated engagement team has recorded more than 2,400 contacts with affected households, around 90 per cent of households within the Phase one area have had direct conversations with the team and 95 percent of identified legal property interests have been contacted and engaged.
“The Homes England funding was awarded to deliver comprehensive regeneration and redevelopment. Refurbishment for existing properties was not the scheme for which money was awarded.
“Had we chosen not to proceed with the redevelopment, this funding opportunity would not have been available to Blackpool. But even if funding were not a consideration, refurbishment alone would not address the fundamental issues we need to tackle.
“Repairing existing buildings would not create the family homes, private gardens, public green spaces, safer streets and play areas that local people have repeatedly told us they want to see.
“It would not create the space needed to redesign the neighbourhood, improve the public realm, introduce new landscaping or deliver the quality of environment that residents deserve
“This is also why the debate cannot be reduced to whether individual buildings are capable of being repaired.
“Even if every property was refurbished tomorrow, it would not create those gardens, green spaces, improved street layout and environment enhancement essential for this area. Doing nothing is not an option.
“We need to create a better area not just for today but for future generations.”
Other speakers
Anna Penfold Sadler said opinion taken into account by the council had been taken by visitors on holiday, not residents.
She said “My house and many others are in good stand, For us to move it will be financial ruin. It is not reasonable to kick people out of their homes. when they’re good enough houses.
“The damp is caused by the render on the outside. Put K render on them, you would easily fix the problems. We’re not asking unrealistic things.
“These are our homes .Imagine if it was you, and you were asked to give up your homes. You’re taking away people’s security.
“You are not helping people, you are making it worse. Yes, the housing needs upgrade. We can help you, help with carpets and painting
“You’re not asking the right people the right things. Please listen to the residents of Revoe.”
Another Revoe Chris Russell, the third speaker, said of the scheme: “It’s not regeneration, it’s demolition.
“Blackpool Council is not looking at best practice. No other council is leading a regeneration programme by demolition. Not one. And we have looked.
“We don’t want it. You’ve given us no alternative.
“The leader of the Council talks about how wonderful things will be in the future.
“What about the current people? How does a bulldozer fix anything for us? We’re going to be financially worse off and our community is going to be broken. But it looks pretty on paper.”
He said the survey he had seen about the scheme had not mentioned demolition or displacement.
He said: “That’s not transparency, that’s propaganda.”
Housing member’s response
Cllr Dave Flanagan, Cabinet member for Housing, said that in his new role, he wanted to have an open dialogue with residents.
No property owner was being compelled to act, they were being given time, information and choice, and support was not a one-size fits all situation. All decisions by residents would be respected.
He said: “Any resident who is anxious, please get in touch. Please contact us directly.
“The sooner we understand your individual situation, the sooner we can put together a package of support for you and your family.
“The later that becomes, the harder that is for us, so please don’t wait. We will continue to listen and support residents throughout this process.”