Blackpool Housing Company regenerating resort

Blackpool Housing Company has completed its largest renovation project to date, part of its quest to transform the town's poor quality hotels into desirable homes.

The company, wholly owned by Blackpool Council but operating independently with its own board of directors, secured an initial £26m in funding through the Lancashire Growth Deal.

More than £12.5m has been invested in property assets so far, acquiring almost 60 property sites across inner Blackpool. The portfolio now includes more than 150 homes to rent, ranging from one-bed apartments to four-bed family homes.

The two properties with more than 60 bedrooms between them have now been converted into 20 high quality self-contained apartments.

"The company has focussed on purchasing property that has negatively impacted the town, property that either provides substandard and often cramped accommodation or in many cases, is sat empty, unused and derelict. These properties were a blight on Albert Road previously creating problems for local neighbours and other hotels. Our investment here demonstrates what we are aiming to achieve in our mission to improve living standards.

Councillor Jim Hobson, chairman of My Blackpool Home, said: “Our ambition was for the new company to become a landlord of choice in the town, working alongside other responsible landlords to provide accommodation that people will choose to live in.