We moved from Tenerife to Blackpool in 2010, now the council helped us find new homes in Revoe

Two families have shared their positive experiences of being supported to find new homes in the Revoe area as Blackpool Council progresses with plans for a major regeneration project.

John and Vicky Dwyer, and parents Lizzy Pinder and Grant Ford, have both been helped to move as part of the council’s plans to transform an area around Central Drive, with all four adults able to remain close to their existing community links.

Blackpool Council has lodged a hybrid planning application for a multi-million-pound regeneration scheme which aims to deliver new homes, green spaces, community facilities, flexible workspaces and shops.

Under the proposals, 300 properties in a densely populated area would be demolished to make way for 230 energy-efficient homes. Council teams are providing support to everyone affected, including tenants, owner-occupiers, landlords and business owners.

For John and Vicky, having a dedicated housing support worker helped make the moving process much easier. The couple, who previously lived in a two-bedroom property on Montrose Avenue, have moved into a three-bedroom home two streets away, close to Ibbison Court Community Centre.

John, a retired roofer, praised the support provided by Natasha from the council’s housing support team. “Natasha [from the council’s housing support team] asked questions to understand better what we wanted and needed,” John said. “She was somebody we could talk to and got everything sorted for us.”

Staying in the area was particularly important to Vicky, who runs a weekly children's group at Ibbison Court Community Centre and works locally as a support worker for adults with disabilities.

“We’ve always been made to feel welcome in Revoe,” said Vicky. “When we moved here, I joined different charities in the area and started up my own, so I wanted to stay close by for that. Having to move was really stressful to begin with but now we feel like the lucky ones. I hope more people get the help that we had.”

The couple's new property also better accommodates John's mobility difficulties, which are caused by arthritis and osteoporosis. He said: "I’m not known for my patience but with Natasha, she’d always get us an answer and you knew where you stood with her. I can’t praise her enough.”

From Tenerife to Blackpool

John and Vicky moved to Blackpool in 2010 after working in Tenerife. “We’d loved living by the sea so we thought we’d head to the coast again,” said John. “It’s not a bad place Blackpool. This area’s got a bad reputation but there is a community and a lot of nice people, so it’s a shame to break that community up, but you have to do something with those old properties.

“You couldn’t sneeze without your neighbour hearing, and a lot had damp in too.”

Another case study is that of parents Lizzy Pinder and Grant Ford, who wanted to remain close to their community when moving from their former home on Erdington Road, where they had lived with their three children for seven years. Although initially reluctant to move, the couple said the support provided by the council's housing team made the process much smoother.

Grant praised housing workers Simon and Julie for their help, particularly during a difficult period for the family following the death of his mother shortly before Christmas. “Simon and Julie [from the housing team] were amazing, they’ve helped us a lot,” Grand said. “We’d call them at all hours and they’d come out to support us and help us to find out what was what.

“They understood we needed to stay close to the children’s schools. Then when I lost my mum before Christmas, they were understanding and didn’t peck at us, they left us to it until we were ready to look at moving again.”

The family now live in a larger three-bedroom property with their two daughters, son and the children's grandpa. Lizzy added: “The new house is nicer - it’s bigger. And the children have settled into it well."

Cllr Dave Flanagan, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for housing, said the regeneration plans were designed to strengthen the existing community while improving local housing and facilities.

“As John says, there’s a strong community around Central Drive and it’s a place that people want to make better - as Vicky’s doing at the community centre,” explained Cllr Flanegan. “Our plans to regenerate the area are all about further supporting that community.

“New and improved housing surrounded by green spaces and modern community facilities will bring a whole host of benefits. We understand the plans have caused anxiety though. That’s why our team - like Natasha, Simon and Julie - are working hard to support people in finding new homes or navigating property sales.

“As Grant attests to, they’re working with each household at their own pace, to find the right next step for them. I’m really pleased these two families have had a positive experience and we wish them every happiness in their new homes.”