Blackpool town centre flats plan scaled back

An application to replace buildings in St John’s Square, Blackpool, with apartments up to seven storeys tall has been ditched, with new plans now submitted for up to five storeys of development.

If it gets the go ahead, the project will see the current three storey building anchored by Pizza Express bulldozed.

Applicant Daniel Berko has revised his proposals following talks with town hall planners.

A design brief accompanying the latest application, says: “The planning scheme was deemed too high in relation to the Winter Gardens and therefore as a result we have significantly reduced the proposed scale and massing.”

The original scheme, which was lodged 12 months ago, had already reduced the size of the apartment block from a top height of nine storeys, to seven and proposed 29 flats.

But the revised application is for a three to five storey building on the corner of Church Street and Abingdon Street containing 19 flats, with shops, a restaurant and a betting shop on the ground floor.

A planning statement adds: “The proposals look to replace the existing buildings of poor architectural merit and reinstate a new prominent corner development to enhance the street-scape along Church Street and Abingdon Street.

“The scheme will look to create an elegant and inviting new street frontage, and tie in with the surrounding context through its use of materiality that takes note of Blackpool’s rich architectural heritage in a complementary and harmonious manner.”

The application will now go before town hall planners at a future date for consideration.

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