Blackpool reworks Stanley Buildings project on cost
Inflation has increased the price of plans to convert the Church Street building into a business hub for start-ups, prompting a series of design tweaks.
Blackpool Council told Place North West that project design changes have been proposed “as part of a cost reduction exercise”.
Inflation has driven the cost of the Stanely Buildings conversion up from £6.9m to around £7.6m since the authority approved plans for the conversion of the building last year.
Now, a revised planning application incorporating the design tweaks will be considered by planners.
Among the project tweaks are:
- A scaled-back approach to glazing
- Omission of planned upper roof terraces omitted and reduced works on lower terraces
- Reduction of the amount of render to courtyard elevations and maintaining more existing brickwork
- Replacement of plans for courtyard landscaping with more hardstanding for parking.
To learn more about the plans, search for application reference 23/0372 on Blackpool Council’s planning portal. Cassidy & Ashton is the architect for the project.
The scheme, known as the Edge, forms part of the council’s £39.5m Town Deal programme and is in line to benefit from a £4.5m chunk of that cash.
Blackpool plans to launch a tender for the conversion work this month and said a number of contractors have already expressed an interest.
“The council is eager to fulfil the project’s twin aims of creating a first-class home for growing small businesses as well as the transformation of a prominent locally listed building,” the council told Place.
OMG that looks hideous , there must be enough architectural and design talent available to offer something better that this it will be a blot on the landscape
By Paul M - Woolton
@Paul
Please read this piece carefully. It’s a proposed renovation of a 1935 Art Deco building.
I would hardly call this building – which I’m very familiar with – ‘hideous’ (an overused word, it’s overused thus robbing it of its power).
By SW
I have lived in Blackpool for almost 80 years. I spent my first 14 year’s living around the corner on Regent Road. In my opinion this new design is in keeping in the way it has always looked. Looks really good to me. And it blends in well with the surrounds.
By Ray Squires-Riley
I notice that Eric Wright are mentioned in the planning – great to see a good solid local contractor being used on such an important scheme especially with so many contractors going bust recently!
By Phil Ingham