Former Premier League outfit Blackpool FC have secured planning approval for a major expansion of Bloomfield Road, a move that will significantly increase stadium capacity but also involves the demolition of neighbouring homes, sparking concern and debate among local residents.
The League One club’s long-awaited upgrade will boost the ground’s seating by around 5,000 places, taking capacity from about 16,500 to 21,500, as part of efforts to modernise one of English football’s oldest stadia.
The decision by Blackpool Council to allow demolition on Henry Street, behind the East Stand, marks a key step in breaking a three-year delay that had stalled the project.
Most of the terrace houses in the designated area are already unoccupied, but one remaining residence is inhabited, and legal agreements have now been reached that will see it removed to facilitate the club’s redevelopment.
What Bloomfield Road upgrade includes
According to The Sun, the expanded Bloomfield Road scheme will see not only extra seating but also enhanced spectator facilities, including upgraded decking behind the East Stand, improved media infrastructure and a suspended TV gantry to enhance broadcast coverage.
A new concourse area behind the stand is also part of the plans, designed to improve circulation, hospitality and matchday experience for visiting supporters.
Blackpool’s redevelopment forms part of a broader ambition to strengthen the club’s profile and community role, with officials also planning the construction of a new community sports facility near the stadium that will include 11-a-side and five-a-side football pitches aimed at boosting local football development.
Supporters have generally welcomed the upgrade, hoping it will help sustain the club’s progress, enhance matchday atmosphere and position Blackpool for future success, potentially beyond League One.
However, the loss of local housing remains controversial, with critics arguing that the social cost to residents outweighs the sporting benefits.
Local concerns and wider implications of Bloomfield Road upgrade
The demolition of terraced homes has drawn criticism from community advocates and local journalists, who argue that compulsory acquisition for sporting development can undermine neighbourhood stability and displace long-standing residents.
Although most properties are empty, the forced removal of the final occupied residence has prompted concern from housing campaigners who question whether adequate support and alternative accommodation are being provided.
Blackpool Council has defended its decision, describing the approval as an “important first step in revitalising this area of the town” and emphasising that the stadium project, combined with the planned community sports facility, will generate local jobs and help sustain economic activity around Bloomfield Road.
FGG Says
Increasing capacity and modernising Bloomfield Road is essential for the club’s future, but doing so at the cost of local homes raises questions about whose voices are prioritised in such decisions.
Football clubs should be engines of community pride, and if these plans are to succeed in the long term, Blackpool and the council must ensure that any residents affected are fairly supported and that the promised community benefits, like new sports facilities, genuinely serve the people living around the stadium, not just those inside it.