Compulsory buy up to secure Blackpool town centre investment goes ahead

Regeneration chiefs are pressing ahead with proposals to build new offices in Blackpool town centre by preparing a compulsory purchase order for oustanding properties required for the scheme.
The area subject to the compulsory purchase orderThe area subject to the compulsory purchase order
The area subject to the compulsory purchase order

The council wants to redevelop around two and a half acres of land between Deansgate, East Topping Street and parts of Cookson Street, King Street and Charles Street.

It says it is in “advanced negotiations” with a potential occupant for offices of a similar size to the nearby Bickerstaffe House.

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The council already owns 91 per cent of the area needed for the development which would be in partnership with Muse Developments, which has built previous phases of the Talbot Gateway.

King Street where the council already owns the majority of properties it needsKing Street where the council already owns the majority of properties it needs
King Street where the council already owns the majority of properties it needs

Landmarks which look set to make way for the new office space include the Hop Inn Pub which the council bought in 2017, and the East Topping Street car park.

The council also already owns the vast majority of properties on King Street which it requires for the investment to go ahead.

But a report to councillors says “negotiations to date have failed to achieve the voluntary acquisition of all properties needed”.

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Therefore the executive is being asked to approve the making of a compulsory purchase order for the outstanding properties when it meets on Monday.

A report adds: “The council has remained committed to providing large office

accommodation in accordance with the masterplan, and discussions have continued with interested parties, all of which indicates that there is a demand for large office accommodation.

“One particular party has expressed an interest for a larger office development, and having considered other locations, the order land is the only site which meets their requirements.”

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The report adds the move will “inevitably involve disruption to those living and working in the area”.

But the council says it has “made considerable efforts to contact and, wherever possible, met each interested party face-to-face to identify their relocation requirements and to discuss their options”.

Some councillors, including Coun Maxine Callow, have previously questioned the merit in building new office accommodation when the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted more people to work from home.

But the council says it is confident there is demand and it will only proceed when legal agreements are in place with the proposed occupant.

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