Stanley Buildings

The art-deco locally-listed Stanley Buildings date back to 1935. Now, this impressive block in Blackpool town centre is getting a face-lift!

Stanley Buildings

Stanley Buildings occupies the block which is bounded by Church Street, Cookson and Caunce Streets.

It’s currently a multi-use managed workspace building and home to FY Creatives (154-158 Church St, Blackpool FY1 3PS. Tel: 01253 477147). A business hub for creative folk in Blackpool/Fylde. Offices, hot desks, business support and signposting.

Current works will see it converted into 44 offices and meeting rooms in the town centre. Flexible co-worker space is being created on the ground floor. Making it environmentally friendly for the future, air source heat pumps and solar panels will be fitted to power the office spaces.

Renovation of the Stanley Buildings

The aim of the renovation is to secure the long-term use of the building and safeguard it for the future.

Blackpool Councillors agreed a £7.5m plan to create a business hub here in March 2022. Funded with £4.5m from the Town Deal, matched with Council funding of £2.8m and £200k from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The plan is to preserve the historic aspects of this attractive building.

We went to have a look around it in early 2024 before work began –

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss out!

With many original features kept, works will aim to preserve the original fabric of the building. Renovations include:

• Existing window openings reglazed to retain faience ceramics
• Keeping existing window designs of the shopfronts, with glazing to the floor
• Renovation of existing brickwork along with restoration and cleaning of exterior faience and mosaic tiles
• Installation of new windows to all upper floors
• Eight shopfronts replaced now – others when funding becomes available
• Removal of landscaping in the courtyard to create hardstanding for car parking

Don’t miss a thing. Get VFC newsletters direct to your inbox.

Sign up to receive interesting information, news & events every week

  By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms, conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Look Around – Before, During and After

These first photos date to 2022-2024, before any of the restoration works started –

Many of the shop units within the block are vacant and were in a poor state of repair. You can also see how the mosaic and tilework is in need of restoration.

By the summer of 2024 scaffolding is in place and work well under way to bring this attractive building back to life!

History of the Stanley Buildings

The shape of this striking, triangular building is best seen from the western side at Church Street. Sold in 1986, the Midland Bank once occupied the attractive stone-mullioned tip of the corner. The main entrance is off Church Street and the courtyard accessed from Caunce Street. Cookson Street forms the third side of the plot.

Renowned Borough architect John Charles Robinson designed the Stanley Buildings. He was famous for a wide range of civic buildings such as Derby Baths and South Shore Open Air Baths, many libraries, offices and leisure amenities. Completed in 1935 it’s clad in cream faience with a frieze of Viking ships.

Built by Edward Lomax, Stanley Terrace previously stood at the divergence of Church Street and Caunce Street. The row was demolished in November 1932. The council bought it as land for more shops, offices and underground public toilets.

Designated a building of historical significance, it’s on the Blackpool Local List.