Blackpool job centre deal stalls

It was revealed in January the council wanted to take over the building on Queen Street and use it as a base for its children’s services department.

The property has been empty for more than two years since Jobcentre Plus relocated to the council’s Municipal Buildings on Corporation Street.

A meeting of the council’s children and young people’s scrutiny committee heard the asking price had been considered too high by the council, and the building had failed to sell at auction.

But discussions with the owner of the building were “ongoing”.

Head of children’s services Diane Booth said: “Covid has meant negotiations have taken longer.

“The offer is still with the company and we are waiting for them. We have had some discussions regarding a contingency plan, but we haven’t yet identified a building that will meet the requirements.

“But that work is ongoing.”

It had been hoped to house up to 300 children’s services staff in the former Job Centre.

Currently staff are housed across three separate sites and there is not enough room in the council’s main town centre offices at Bickerstaffe House to accommodate all the workers.

Bringing staff together in a single location is among the recommendations made by Ofsted as part of the department’s improvement plan.

Meanwhile a former children’s home at 331 Bispham Road could be set for a new lease of life as a supported living facility for 16 to 17-year-olds who are due to leave the care system.

Talks are being held with Blackpool Coastal Housing, which already manages a similar facility at William Lyons House on Exchange Street, to run the scheme.