Month: January 2026

Blackpool Civic Trust Awards 2025

Held at the Blackpool Winter Gardens on 22nd January 2026

Blackpool’s pride and community spirit were in the spotlight at the annual Blackpool Civic Trust Awards, honouring outstanding contributions to the resort’s environment, heritage, and civic life.

Hosted by Blackpool Civic Trust and held in the Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens, the event recognised excellence across the town’s streets, open spaces, buildings, and community organisations whose hard work continues to enhance Blackpool for residents and visitors alike.

The ceremony highlighted achievements that reflect the Trust’s ongoing commitment to promoting high standards in architecture, urban design, environmental quality, and community involvement throughout the resort.

Elaine Smith MBE, who is chair, explained how the Civic Trust had been founded in 1957 by then Minister for Housing Duncan Sandys to encourage high standards of planning and architecture and to stimulate interest in the good appearance of both town and country – aims which were embraced by Blackpool Civic Trust when it was founded in 51 years ago.

“But we also aim to instil Civic Pride in the local community. Because of this we decided not only to give awards for design and construction excellence but also for environmental and community projects.”

Mrs Smith, assisted by a presentation collated by Carl Carrington, Blackpool council head of Planning and Heritage, and citations read by Andy Mitchell of Radio Lancashire, announced the awards which were presented by Blackpool Mayor, Councillor Kim Critchley and mayoress, Councillor Mel Fenlon, following an afternoon tea.

The annual awards underscore Blackpool’s dedication to preserving its unique character while encouraging innovation and improvement across the townscape, started with the Best Street Award to the town centre’s Lord Street – chosen from street nominations made by ward councillors for way residents work together as a community. Lord street is the home of the Be You Initiative and was described as “a hub of community, inclusivity and civic pride.”

Best Street Award to the town centre’s Lord Street

A highly commended award was given to Mere Road.

The DWP building which has changed the landscape in the town centre, won the Best New Build award for Blackpool Council, Muse Developments and Vinci Contractors and was described as “a landmark example of civic architecture”.

By contrast it the iconic Stanley Buildings, constructed in 1935 and designed by then borough architect J.C. Robinson, won the award for Best Refurbishment for Blackpool Council, main contractor F Parkinson Lyd and architect Cassidy & Ashton. Now named, The Robinson, it has been sympathetically restored to provde a vibrant support centre for business and enterprise.

Best Transforming Blackpool to Enveco North West for the Keep Blackpool Tidy programme.

Open Spaces to Re-Form Landscape Architecture for the recreation area at the new DWP site.

Best Community Group to Layton Together and the Forward Project.

Best Youth Project to United Youth Alliance Social Action Group.

Highly Commended Youth Project Award to the Play Inclusion Project.

Best Hospitality to Holiday Inn, Talbot Road

Best Night Time Economy to The Galleon Bar.

Blue Plaque Policy refresh

We’ve refreshed the policy for Blue Plaques in Blackpool as shown below.

BLACKPOOL CIVIC TRUST BLUE PLAQUE POLICY

10th January 2026

The principal criteria to be satisfied for a subject to be commemorated by a plaque:

  1. The event, person or building commemorated must be of very special importance in the history, heritage or shaping of Blackpool.

    a. Because blue plaques commemorate history and heritage, a sufficient period of time must have elapsed for the subject commemorated to be truly regarded as part of history. A period of at least 10 years should normally have elapsed.

    b. People commemorated must have had a highly significant impact on the life or development of Blackpool, or their achievements or activities must have been of national significance. Such people should have lived or worked in Blackpool for a period sufficient for the town to have had a significant influence in forming their character or shaping their activities.

    c. To qualify for a historic blue plaque a person must be dead. At least ten years should normally have passed since their death, so that sufficient time has elapsed for an objective evaluation to be made of their local or national significance. Rare exceptions may be made.

    2 A prominent and physically suitable structure (normally a building or wall) on which the plaque can be erected should exist. There needs to be a strong association between the structure and the subject of the plaque.

    a. The owner of the structure needs to be amenable to the erection of the plaque.
    b. It is the very nature of a blue plaque that there is a strong association between the physical structure on which the plaque is erected and the subject of the plaque. Departing from this principle would dilute the essence of the blue plaques scheme.

    c. A major element of the scheme is celebrating the town’s built heritage. There is therefore a very strong presumption against erecting a plaque commemorating the sites of buildings now demolished.

    d. An exception to 2(b) above may be made for pre-20th century buildings. In some cases the function and location of the buildings may give a very valuable insight into the early development of Blackpool.

    e. An exception to 2(c) may be considered if the site makes a strong and important contribution to public understanding of a place.

    3 There must be a sponsor or group of sponsors prepared to meet the cost of the plaque. Currently (2025) the cost of a plaque is approximately £600. This covers the cost of manufacture only and there may be further costs for the erection of the plaque and future maintenance.

    Proposals for new blue plaques. If you have a suggestion for a new blue plaque which you think would meet these criteria, especially if you have an idea about a possible sponsor, please contact Blackpool Civic Trust providing as much background information as possible.

    All suggestions and applications are considered by the Executive Committee of Blackpool Civic Trust.

The policy can be downloaded in pdf form by clicking on this link