Housing | The Lead

Warrington Council financial crisis deepens as credit rating agency withdraws services

The council is in £1.8bn worth of debt following a series of high-risk investments and Conservative austerity measures.

By Zoë Grünewald

Warrington's constituencies tell two distinct stories ahead of general election

Warrington North has returned a Labour MP since it was first established in 1983 - but Warrington South has been split for the majority of that time

By Rachel Howarth

Warrington: Forged in tragedy, united in resilience and on the brink of political change

Warrington is a town of reconciliation and community. But its seems even this town cannot forgive 14 years of Tory misrule

By Zoë Grünewald

Comfortable wins for Labour in Warrington general election results

A comfortable night for Labour in Warrington, returning two MPs

By Jamie Lopez

Warrington is placing local people at the heart of its cultural programming with unique results

Culture Warrington's community engagement approach is genuine - and for that reason, it's getting results

By Laura Davis

Ukrainians in Warrington returning home to face continued bombardment

Women and children are choosing to be reunited with their families in a war zone rather than be without them in the safety of the UK.

By Antonia Charlesworth Stack

Tiny piece of land next to M62 with climate-critical significance

Peatlands are disappearing at an alarming rate - so Pestfurlong Moss has enormous importance in our eco-system.

By Kevin Gopal

Instead of social housing, councils spend tens of millions on "temporary" hotels

Residents on waiting lists are being shunted between privately owned B&Bs, hotels and hostels. We filed Freedom of Information requests to two councils to find out the costs.

By Eleanor Hancock

Introducing Brick by Brick: Rebuilding Britain's housing

Our new series - by Westminster Editor Zoë Grünewald - will push for the government to go far beyond its promise of 1.5 million new homes, and to revolutionise how we see housing in the UK.

By Zoë Grünewald

Mapped: Developments changing the face of Blackpool

There's £2billion being pumped into Blackpool - from the Airport, to the town centre, to new housing developments. Here's the major schemes set to change the town.

By Ed Walker

Inside Blackpool's regeneration story

From swathes of new housing to Talbot Gateway there's billions being pumped into the town - we look at where and what impact it is having

By Ed Walker

Blackpool family trapped in financial nightmare after naming error

Marc Thomas has been embroiled in a tussle with VW Financial Services after his details were mixed up with another customer

By Shelagh Parkinson

Flat banned from Airbnb-style use due to being outside the holiday area

Cherry Property Investment Ltd had appealed after a retrospective planning application to use ground floor premises on Harrowside in South Shore was refused

By Shelagh Parkinson

Developer loses appeal for new Blackpool homes because project was too small

Planning inspector throws out appeal over concerns regarding how much it would contribute to local housing targets

By Shelagh Parkinson

Blackpool's largest council estate Grange Park has just got bigger

133 new social properties have been finished in a £20million scheme

By Ed Walker

Blackpool's Multiversity project risks pushing residents right to the edge

Residents living in some of the 72 properties set to be demolished speak with The Blackpool Lead about the harsh reality of the challenges they face as a direct result of the Multiversity project

By Michael Holmes

Security pulled back, CCTV off and water disconnected ahead of Warbreck House fire

The owner of the site, in Bispham, has blamed Blackpool Council, the government and United Utilities. But many of their claims are contentious

By Michael Holmes

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