Blackpool Evictions: Hundreds Face Displacement in £90m Regeneration Plan
A controversial £90 million regeneration project in Blackpool, England, will lead to the eviction of hundreds of families from one of the country’s most deprived neighborhoods, sparking outrage from residents and raising concerns about the future of affordable housing. Under the plan, signed off by Rishi Sunak’s government, approximately 400 homes will be demolished this summer and replaced with just 230 new properties.
The area slated for demolition is home to over 800 people, including roughly 250 children, who fall within the poorest 10% of the population in England, according to official documents. Residents describe feeling “bewildered, angry and distraught” at the prospect of losing their homes, fearing a “mass dispersion” of a particularly vulnerable community.
The demolitions, focused on the Rydal Avenue area of central Blackpool, underscore the deepening crisis of affordable housing across Britain and the challenges faced by towns attempting to revitalize deprived areas. Currently, 17% of Blackpool residents are experiencing deprivation, and nearly 12,000 households are currently on the social housing waiting list in the town.
The council received £90 million in March of last year from former Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove,as part of the Homes England agenda. The plan involves replacing “poor quality” homes with 230 “high quality, energy efficient” properties, including more expensive townhouses. Officials claim that many of the homes to be demolished do not meet basic living standards, citing safety concerns, vacancy, and overcrowding.Inspections of 679 homes revealed that two-thirds presented a category one hazard – posing a risk to life or serious injury – and 74% failed to meet the decent homes standard.
However, a 2019 masterplan developed in partnership with blackpool council painted a different picture, describing many of the homes as “good quality” and “an excellent example of early 20th century terraced housing suitable for a sustainable community.” This discrepancy has fueled skepticism among residents.
An impact assessment by the council identifies over 800 individuals within the regeneration zone, including 50 toddlers and around 200 children under the age of 15. A significant proportion of residents are vulnerable, with a quarter living with disabilities and approximately 80 individuals over the age of 65. The Rev. Matthew Lockwood estimates that around 300 families will be displaced,with the resulting anxiety and “powerlessness” worsening their mental health.
The situation is particularly sensitive given a recent tragedy linked to similar council regeneration efforts. In October, a coroner determined that the council’s forced purchase of a local barber’s home contributed to his suicide. Alistair Taylor, a father of four, reportedly felt “bullied, cajoled and intimidated” during the process of losing his home to make way for a £54 million education campus. The coroner ruled that the compulsory purchase order played a “more than minimal role” in his death,criticizing the council’s approach as lacking “focus and thought.”
The council has not specified how many of the 230 new homes will be designated as social or affordable housing, though officials claim similar past schemes have been entirely social housing and have reduced poverty levels. They maintain that extensive consultations have been held with residents over the past year.
Paul Kimberlin, a homeowner facing eviction, vowed to “fight the bulldozers all the way.” He purchased his three-bedroom property in 2018, seeking a life by the sea, but following the recent loss of his partner to cancer, the home now represents an irreplaceable emotional anchor. He rejected the council’s offer of £96,000 for his property plus £15,000 in compensation, stating it wouldn’t be enough to secure choice housing in Blackpool.
Neighbors Brian and Rose Timmins have reluctantly agreed to leave their Victorian terrace after being offered supported accommodation. Brian Timmins, whose family has lived in the house for a century, lamented, “The only way we planned to leave was feet first through the front door.”
Another resident, a mother of four, expressed her trauma at the prospect of eviction, highlighting the lack of affordable rental options. She stated that available private rentals are currently priced at £1,300 a month, far beyond her reach.
The unfolding situation in Blackpool serves as a stark reminder of the complex challenges surrounding urban regeneration, affordable housing, and the human cost of development.
