The foundations of a new seaside future BURA Seaside Symposium, Blackpool
Diversification! Economics and Housing Winter Gardens, Blackpool, 5-7th March 2008
BURA and Blackpool Council were joined by Regeneration Practitioners from around the UK to explore the diversification of seaside economies and housing to create a sustainable future. Entrepreneurs with visions and ideas for the future of seaside places debated about the way that towns by the sea could change their fortunes.
As well as a packed programme full of inspirational speakers offering problem solving solutions for coastal towns, the seaside symposium had exhibitors from places wanting to showcase their projects and visions for the future.
View the presentations taken on the day
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Wednesday 5th March
11.55 – Welcome to Blackpool – a town about to change
Jackie Potter, Blackpool Council
12.05 – Lessons from the past, a springboard to future prosperity
Doug Garrett, Re:Blackpool
12.30 – Planning for the future – Aspiration is not a dirty word
Bob Young, Local Space Ltd
13.05 – Re-Branding a negative image to attract people to work, live and play in coastal towns
Tony Stanton, an agency called england
15.00 – Be Ambitious, Think Diversification: A series of micro presentations to stimulate discussion and debate. Current trends were discussed and potential scenarios explored regarding the future roles and socio-economic status of seaside towns
Dr Craig Rose, Wood Holmes Group - Futurist
Cllr Dr Stuart Anderson, Conwy County Borough Council - Environmental
Jess Steele, Development Trust Association - Community
Cany Ash, Ash Sakula Architects - Design
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Thursday 6th March
13.00 – This session took three economic sectors and evaluated how seaside towns can try and create an economy that works in and out of season. The audience participated to reality check the propositions and explore not only how they could be adapted for their towns, but how some joined up thinking with neighbours could ensure a regional offer.
Entertainment – the end of ‘the end of the summer season.’ How can the entertainment offer by diversified, should you be offering entertainment to niche groups?
Retail – Why do visitors spend less shopping in seaside towns than elsewhere? If you build it will they come or should you be offering specialist shopping sector?
Creative Industries – Can seaside towns get over infrastructure challenges and sell a ‘lifestyle’ to attract certain creative and cultural industries?
Participants included: Mhora Samuel, The Theatres Trust; Peter Spence, South Coast Design Forum; Rob Woods, Hastings Town Centre Manager; Devika Gopal Agge, Partnership Solutions + British BIDs
14.30 – Accommodating change: Seaside Towns must change the housing offer to compete
Before we began we asked: Quality and longevity of design and construction. Some considerations for seaside housing stock; what materials work; what designs work; what construction solutions exist to problems that can be avoided? This session drew on the collective knowledge of the conference to draw up a checklist for ensuring good quality seaside housing.
Housing innovations – a preview from Communities England from Diane Walton (Housing Corporation) and Paul Spooner (English Partnerships)
Seaside Housing Debate – Getting the mix right
Seaside towns often have the extremes of rich and poor, and housing to reflect it. The spectrum of architecture is equally as diverse as is the quality of management of housing stock, from neglected HMOs and fringe estates to middle class enclaves of restored terraces. Not only should the mix be right, but also the management and lease arrangements of new housing to ensure that economic development is backed up by the provision of a range of housing. Can the seaside be brave enough to create a new vernacular?
Participants included: Bill Maynard, Urban Splash, Alan Southern, University of Liverpool; Jenny Lynn, Regeneration and Renewal Consultant; Steve Matthews, Lancaster City Council; Antony Lockley, University of Salford.
Friday 7th March
09.30 Tour to Morecambe
Change in seaside towns – Steve Matthews, Winning Back Morecambe's West End, showed delegates what they have done to change the housing stock in their town. We took a look at how they have overcome the challenge and the success of local schemes. Delegates were also given the opportunity to look at Urban Splash's development of the Midland Hotel and heard of process of requiring the site, the plans for the future and the hopes of how the site will inspire aspirations in the area.
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