Centenary House

Lancaster City Council’s ambitions to bring back to life the site of a former department store have moved one step closer thanks to the award of a government grant worth nearly £750,000.

Originally built in 1927 and extended in 1961, Centenary House on Regent Road in Morecambe has been largely vacant since the mid-1990s.

Bought by the city council as part of the West End masterplan, the intention is to refurbish the building’s upper floors to provide affordable housing, retaining the Co-Op late shop that occupies one-half of the ground floor.

As the building suffers from a number of expensive constraints that add cost and complexity to the challenge of bringing it back into use, the plans have stalled in recent times.

Now, thanks to a £749,016 grant from the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF), a package of remedial works to deal with asbestos, water ingress, and structural repairs can be implemented. The council has appointed Seddon Construction Limited to deliver these works. 

Councillor Caroline Jackson, cabinet member with responsibility for housing, said: “The ongoing regeneration of Morecambe is a priority for the council.

“We are in urgent need of more affordable housing and if we are able to provide it while bringing this building back in to use then that has to be a positive.

“Progressing the refurbishment and reuse of Centenary House would not be possible without the grant funding support from the Brownfield Land Release Fund and I’m grateful for the support so we can now progress with the development.”

Last updated: 13 January 2025