Update on new village plans for fire-charred Warbreck House
The owners of the fire-ravaged Warbreck House site in Bispham said discussions on its development are continuing.
It comes as the local community remains in the dark about what is happening at the massive site, formerly the base for almost 3,000 civil servants employed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Owners Pipesafe, a London-based property development company, previously said its plans for the 20-plus acre site included housing, shops and a playpark.
The ambitious proposals created a great deal of interest locally and it was hoped that the plans would press ahead.
However, when things went quiet, there were unfounded rumours that the site had been earmarked for asylum seekers. which were dismissed.
After the 250,000 sq ft building was vacated by the civil servants, who have relocated to swish Fylde View in Blackpool town centre, it became a magnet for vandals, culminating in a huge blaze there on June 7 2024, which left parts of the building severely damaged.
It was under those circumstances that a spokesman forPipesafe announced the ambitious proposals in November 2024, sparking hopes that the area would be regenerated.
The spokesman said: “Alongside new housing, new shops and cafes, a playpark, childcare facilities and a medical clinic, our proposals include powering the whole site with lower cost electricity.
“We’ll make any electricity surplus available to local residents in the adjoining communities at the same lower cost too.”
There were als plans for a SEND (Special Educational Needs) school but this element was he taken off the table.
Where are things now?
After the announcement on the ambitious plans, it was expected that a planning application would be lodged with Blackpool Council in due course.
However, no plans have yet been submitted to planners at this stage and the site remains vacant