Obesity concerns scupper Boxpark-style Blackpool venue
According to the council, Southbeach Streetfood’s plans for a food and drink destination on the Promenade would “exacerbate an existing overconcentration of hot food takeaway uses in area with significant health inequalities with high levels of childhood obesity”.
Blackpool Council’s planning committee will meet next week to discuss proposals for a Boxpark-style shipping container venue at Flagstaff Gardens, located opposite Sandcastle waterpark.
Planning officers have recommended the project be refused, citing several reasons:
- The application proposes a hot food and drink development on safeguarded open space in an area where there is an identified shortfall of open space and no compensatory measures or mitigation is proposed
- The proposal would exacerbate an existing overconcentration of hot food takeaway uses in an area with significant health inequalities with high levels of childhood obesity
- The siting of stacked shipping containers on open space is poor quality design and inappropriate in such a prominent location on the Promenade
- The scheme would have a detrimental impact on the character, setting and views of the grade two-listed Casino and White Tower
- The application fails to demonstrate that amenity and highway safety would be safeguarded.
The applicant is seeking permission to erect 19 shipping containers on the site, which would be occupied by various food vendors.
“The ethos for Southbeach Streetfood is to deliver high quality, authentic streetfood in an ethical, considerate, and sustainable way for both passing tourists and local Blackpool residents,” according to a design and access statement prepared by Joseph Boniface Architects.
The use of shipping containers to create space for food vendors has been seen across various schemes in the UK including Hatch in Manchester, Stack in Newcastle and Boxpark in London.
JMP North West is the planning consultant advising Southbeach Streetfood on the Blackpool project.
For more information on the development, search Blackpool Council’s planning portal using reference number 22/0506.
I take it Blackpool Council don’t get out much and see the benefits and foot fall places like this get in London and Manchester. Stuck in the 60’s.
By New Wave
Oh dear. After so many positive announcements pointing to the fact that the council finally got what was required of it to move Blackpool forward, this. They really, really don’t get it, do they?
By Sceptical
This would have been a great opportunity to do something interesting to Blackpool seafront. It works in several other locations in the NW. Citing obesity as a reason not to pass is seems just a poor excuse by the ‘grey’ dinosaurs NIMBYs of local planning. It’s time we saw a more forward thinking approval system.
By BuildaBear
I would love to have a conversation with some of Blackpool’s planning committee as they are literally so off the mark at times. This would revitalise that area and actually offer some decent eateries for people, as I can’t think of anywhere round there that I would actually want to eat in. This is similar to the time they wanted to refuse the new Sands Hotel on the front, based on its colour clashing with Blackpool Tower but are perfectly happy with a 10ft bright green parrot sticking out of probably the ugliest and most unimaginative building on the promenade (Coral Island). Someone take them to Hatch in Manchester and see how busy it gets. They really need to get into 21st century, otherwise Blackpool is never going to improve and attract a more varied and younger clientele.
By Scott D
Hi Scott – just wanted to pop in and clarify that the venue has been recommended for refusal – it has not yet been refused. The committee meets at 6pm Wednesday 26 April if you’d like to attend. – J
By Julia Hatmaker
Blackpool council should really look at the success of stack seaburn, something like.this would do really well in Blackpool I feel
By RoughRider
I take it that looking at white tower from outside a weatherspoons pub looking at a giant multi colour pipe work would be so intrusive. Obviously investment is not wanted
By Matthew mitchy
I take it.that the pleasure beach are not involved.because if it was. It would be passed.if no involvment. Then they stop any competition down there
By Ema king
Good news; an overconcentration of shipping containers is never a good idea.
By Seganti
Who goes to Blackpool to eat totally healthy food? It’s fish & chips, donuts & coffee foe me.Surely there’s no rule that says it has to serve unhealthy food,I’ve been on biker rallies where there have been stalls doing the most amazing stir fries,curries,salads etc so credit people with the sense to know what to eat & how much of it.
By Molly
absolutely ridiculous position to take. The space is unused, looks unattractive and certainly does not represent good quality open green space as the inspector seems to want – needless to mention the massive open space directly across the road – the beach!
This would bring much-needed high quality leisure space serving a different market than much of the family-orientated schemes in Blackpool’s pipeline. Such provision is essential to all successful regeneration schemes (see Kampus & Ramona Manchester, Boxpark Croydon etc an their instant effect on surrounding property values).
Obesity in Blackpool is directly related to depravity and will only be addressed through economic growth, which will only be achieved if people actually want to live there!
By Anonymous
If I’ve got this right, the exercise of people’s free will with regards to what they eat and how they go about their daily lives is now a valid planning consideration? Really?
By Anonymous
Think you’ll find Blackpool’s obesity problem is caused by the council’s obsession with cars keeping walking & cycling in the town extremely dangerous.
By Anonymous
I hope this goes ahead we were really excited when we read about this venture especially my son who is leaving school this year and loves cooking, we live locally and he has started his cv to apply for a job there as there is nothing like this in blackpool
By Paul
Weak excuse to refuse, street food is healthier than the rubbish anywhere on the promenade, the famous 1 pound burger not fit for human consumption I spend more feeding the dog
By Paul
a street food venue like this isn’t a takeaway, planning are so out of touch its unbelievable
By Anonymous
They’ve all been munching too much of that rock
By It's M to the B
Oh dear…….
Will have to stick with donuts and candy floss. The food offer is the most disappointing thing when visiting Blackpool.
By ALL
Even in Manchester nobody wants anymore of these boring over priced food halls that product of a property industry devoid of any original ideas and out of touch with ordinary people who seeing massive food inflation and can’t afford the jumped up prices these places.
By Anonymous
Food inflation at 19% and general inflation at 10% and yet the penny not dropped for property industry that these expensive food halls are doomed.
By Mathew Jones
Would just like to point out that the comment by “Anonymous” suggesting that “nobody wants” food halls in Manchester is deeply misleading. Those that we have are exceptionally successful and there are multiple more planned or in development.
By FrankManc
As a resident of Manchester I can confirm that food halls like this are not only brilliant but are also very successful. Investors would not continue to create such venues if there is no demand, Frank Manc is correct. Go to any food hall in Manchester on a weeknight, never mind a weekend, and I can guarantee you it is full.
By Big Dub
Big Dub they are not full at all
By Gill