Another 90 homes set to get go ahead on former Blackpool office site

Planning officers have recommended the scheme for land off Preston New Road, Marton, for approval but the final decision will rest with central government because the area is currently designated as employment land.

However efforts to attract businesses to the site have failed, prompting moves to build new homes instead.

Rowland Homes, which submitted the bid, has already developed the bulk of the land for 115 houses.

A report to the council’s planning committee which is due to consider the application on Tuesday October 20, says most new businesses coming to Blackpool want to locate on the Airport Enterprise Zone.

It adds: “There is concern over the loss of the employment land, especially given the council has had to approach Fylde Council to provide 14 hectares of employment land to meet Blackpool’s future needs.

“But this needs to be balanced against the circumstances on the site and the need to look for a solution in bringing the site back into use.

“The applicant has demonstrated that the site has been unsuccessfully marketed for business development for a number of years.

“Furthermore, since 2016 the Government and the council have been actively encouraging new businesses to locate at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, with incentives such as business rates relief and enhanced capital allowances, making employment land elsewhere a less attractive proposition for new businesses.”

The development of two, three and four bedroom homes including detached, semi-detached and mews-style properties would also help meet Blackpool’s housing needs.

Rowland Homes secured planning permission in 2016 for the first phase of the housing estate despite concerns it would increase traffic in the area.

The land was previously occupied by ERNIE, the Electronic Random Number Indicating Equipment that selects Premium Bond winners, until the famous tower which housed the equipment was demolished in February 2017.

But some National Savings and Investments workers remain, based at Moorland House which was retained on the site.

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