Cassidy + Ashton marks completion of phase one of £20m Blackpool housing development
Cassidy + Ashton joined residents and project partners in celebrating the completion of phase one of Grange Park estate in Blackpool, a £20m social housing scheme that will provide 131 new homes.
Over the summer, 17 properties were released for occupation including 12 houses and five adaptable bungalows offering affordable, energy efficient accommodation for the new residents.
Lead architects on the project, Lawrence McBurney and Dominic Read-Garrett, and senior planning consultant Claire Parker, from our Preston office, were joined by colleagues from RP Tyson Construction, Blackpool Council and Grange Park residents who have recently moved into their new homes.
The new homes are being funded partially by a grant from Homes England and are managed by Blackpool Coastal Housing who also manage around 5,000 properties on Blackpool Council’s behalf.
Cassidy + Ashton is the lead designer on the scheme, having developed the designs following conversations with the local community, Boundary Primary School, At The Grange, and local stakeholders. RP Tyson Construction is the principal contractor for the development.
Dominic said: “We are excited to see how the site contributes to the local community and acts as a catalyst of positive development for the wider area. This project is of particular personal importance having grown up within a half-mile of the site.
“It’s fantastic to see the provision of essential housing for the community designed and constructed with longevity and adaptability in mind. The success of the project is a result of the collaboration of a dedicated, passionate and forward-thinking team that have listened to the local community to deliver a high-quality development.”
The homes have also been designed to be easily modified for specialist needs and independent living space.
Dominic added: “The main principle in our designs for the homes at Grange Park is to provide new accessible, sustainable, community focused homes. The homes have improved levels of insulation, inclusion of renewable technologies including solar panels and air source heat pumps to improve living costs.
“We have also included in our designs for the development areas of green open amenity space and a children’s play area providing an asset to the wider estate.”
Grange Park is the largest council estate in Blackpool with homes mostly 1940s and 1970s. It is forming an important part of the council’s climate emergency declaration goals to make the council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030 and achieve 100% clean energy across the council’s full functions by 2030.
An additional £1.1m project is underway that is seeing houses retrofitted to improve energy efficiency, Groundwork eco-coaches working with residents to help them understand energy consumption and additional work completed to install solar technology at the community centre.
Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Levelling Up – Place with responsibilities for Strategic Housing, said: “It is wonderful to see the first residents move into their new homes. This is a scheme that the council and Blackpool can be proud of.
“The Grange Park homes will help meet local housing needs ranging from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom houses designed for larger families which are also more energy efficient.”
On completion, expected by summer 2024, the development will have in total 96 houses, five bungalows and 30 sheltered apartments along with enhanced open spaces and improved pedestrian and cycle access.
