Blackpool Resort Masterplan

The results of the latest report into the progress of the Blackpool Resort Masterplan have been announced by Liz Meek, Regional Director of the Government Office for the North West.

The report, which was commissioned by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, measures progress of the Masterplan against the recommendations made by the Blackpool Task Force. Formed in March 2007, the Task Force was set up following a request from government to assess the long-term regeneration plans in the town following its failed casino bid.

In addition, following the recent appointment of Sir Howard Bernstein as its Chair, Urban Regeneration Company (URC), ReBlackpool is carrying out a strategic review into the regeneration Masterplan.

For a copy of the press release about this to view or download it, then click here or visit BCN Scribd documents top left of this page.

For our VIP readers (visually impaired people) then we reproduce the whole press release by clicking below (this allows for it to be included in our Odiogo Podcasts for easy listening):

Report on Regeneration Progress in Blackpool

Government Office North West is the body that represents Central Government in the North West.  They have recently produced a first progress report on regeneration in Blackpool.

The report comments on the recruitment of Sir Howard Bernstein to Re-Blackpool the Urban Regeneration Company (see earlier article on this site); it talks about a significant £35 million into Blackpool’s housing market; it suggests that Government Departments may consider relocating to Blackpool.

And significantly, it praises work done by Government Neighbourhood Renewal Advisers to develop the third sector in the town and the benefits this will bring in delivering the Blackpool Local Area Agreement

Welcome Sir Howard!

Sir Howard Bernstein has been appointed as Chair of ReBlackpool, the town’s Urban Regeneration Company. This has caused some controversy as Sir Howard is also the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council – the authority that was recommended to develop the Regional Casino rather than Blackpool.

However, we should not knock Sir Howard for Manchester’s success in that competition, but instead look at elements of that bid that clearly impressed the Casino Advisory Panel.

In particular in their Final Report the Panel were impressed that Manchester

“would be consulting widely across the conurbation on the nature of those community benefits… and that benefits would really be felt in local communities and not something imposed…We were also impressed with the work of the council in working with resident associations, in understanding hard to reach groups, and in getting local people into jobs”

Of course this was at the same time that Blackpool Council was admitting in its Local Area Agreement 6-month review that it found community involvement in the town “challenging”. In the appointment of Sir Howard perhaps we have somebody who can meet that challenge?

So welcome Sir Howard. We hope that some of your skills and experience will be used to lead and push forward regeneration in the town, and that communities will clearly be involved, have influence and be clearly seen to benefit.

We look forward to meeting and working with you.