Fylde pulls plug on Kirkgate Centre conversion
Plans to acquire the 36,000 sq ft Kirkham retail parade and redevelop it into affordable housing have been scrapped.
Fylde Council had planned to buy the shopping complex and convert it into 22 affordable homes as part of its Future High Streets Fund programme of projects.
However, the council has deemed the scheme unviable.
“Unfortunately, despite ongoing conversations with several potential private sector providers and housing associations it has not been possible to secure a scheme at the Kirkgate Centre,” a council report said.
Fylde is now in talks with the Department for the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about reallocating the funding to other projects within the FHSF programme.
The authority was awarded £6.3m from the FHSF, which is earmarked to support several projects across Kirkham.
As well as the Kirkgate Centre project, other projects featured in the FHSF programme include:
- Public realm improvements
- The creation of a heritage and eco skills centre
- Turning the grade two-listed former TSB Bank building into an arts centre and community cinema.
Fylde has requested for £9.5m from the FHSF pot but was ultimately awarded £3m less. The funding gap was closed when Lancashire County Council stepped in to provide the outstanding amount earlier this year.
While the Kirkgate project is no longer on the agenda, other elements of Fylde’s £10m Kirkham Futures strategy are progressing.
The council acquired the former Hillside restaurant on Preston Street and urgent repair works are under way to prepare the building for its future use as a skills centre.
I still look forward to seeing Kirkham have its upgrade and come alive again
By Margaret Eyre
I didn’t agree with turning it into housing anyway, there is enough housing being built around Kirkham. What we need are shops and servicers, not more housing.
By James Mechan
@James Mechan. It is true that a lot of housing has been built around the greater Kirkham area (Wesham especially). This block though was a social housing proposal.
I can see why Fylde have thought this a good idea – on public transport routes too. But it’s quite a tricky building to convert to a good standard so I can see why there were no takers. There is a few housing association blocks just off the town centre mind.
Perhaps the remaining money could go to further aesthetic shopfront schemes in the town. These have worked wonders in parts of Blackpool town centre already.
By SW