In a move that has sparked outrage among local residents, the Blackpool Council has unveiled a £90 million regeneration scheme that will see the demolition of up to 400 homes in the Rydal Avenue area. The plan, which has been approved by the government, promises to replace the demolished properties with only 230 new units, raising concerns about the impact on the area’s already limited affordable housing stock.
The affected neighbourhood is home to more than 800 people, with a quarter of the residents being disabled and around 80 over the age of 65. According to official data, the area is among the poorest 10% in England, with many families struggling with poverty and social exclusion. The proposed “mass dispersal” of these vulnerable individuals has been met with fierce criticism from community leaders and local politicians.
The Reverend Matthew Lockwood, the leader of Beacon Church, has described the residents as “bewildered, angry and distraught,” fearing that they will be left homeless by the redevelopment. Chris Webb, the Labour MP for Blackpool South, is also understood to have raised concerns about the scheme following a tense public meeting with residents last month.
Blackpool Council, however, maintains that the project is a vital part of the “systematic and wholesale” regeneration of the town. Council leader Lynn Williams argued that “regenerating one of the most deprived areas of the country is not a bad thing.” The council claims that many of the homes earmarked for demolition do not meet basic living standards and pose safety risks.
Yet, a 2019 masterplan for the area described many of the homes as “good quality” and an “excellent example of early 20th century terraced housing.” This has fueled concerns that the demolition is driven more by a desire for gentrification than genuine improvements to the area.
Residents like Paul Kimberlin, who bought his three-bedroom property in 2018, are vowing to fight the demolition “all the way.” Kimberlin, whose partner recently passed away, says the council’s offer of £96,000 plus £15,000 in compensation is not enough to find a suitable replacement home in the area.
The redevelopment plan highlights the ongoing housing crisis in Blackpool, which has one of the lowest levels of social housing in England. With nearly 12,000 households on the social housing waiting list, the loss of 400 affordable homes is likely to exacerbate the problem.
As the council moves forward with its plans, the fate of the Rydal Avenue residents hangs in the balance, with many facing the prospect of being uprooted from their homes and communities. The battle over this controversial redevelopment is set to continue, with the wellbeing of some of Blackpool’s most vulnerable residents at the heart of the debate.
