Progress for Blackpool FC’s new East Stand

A planning application for the 4,000-capacity stand is expected this spring, while the council is exploring the use of CPOs to unlock the land required for the project. 

Blackpool FC’s new East Stand forms the second phase of a wider redevelopment of land around its Bloomfield Road stadium. 

Blackpool Council granted planning approval earlier this month for phase one, the creation of Revoe Sports Village on land previously earmarked for housing as part of Foxhall Village. 

To unlock phase two, the council might need to flex its compulsory purchase muscles to acquire properties in private ownership located within the footprint of the proposed new stand. 

A report to the council’s executive states that CPOs might be needed to unlock the site for redevelopment if negotiations with thrid-party owners are unsuccessful. 

There are 27 properties that need to be acquired in order to facilitate the East Stand project. 

“The council has been in correspondence with the owners of all 27 properties, with a number of offers to acquire properties being made to date,” the report states. 

“Discussions will continue to proceed on this basis, with every effort being made to obtain the required properties by negotiation with relevant owners where possible. Where all lines of negotiation have been exhausted, the council may need to consider use of its statutory powers in order to acquire the land and property required to facilitate the delivery of the scheme in a timely manner.” 

The East Stand is the final part of the expansion of Bloomfield Road. The redevelopment of the other three stands completed in 2010.