Blackburn’s Queen’s Park estates were built in three phases between 1963 and 1968 designed ‘in house’ by the council’s own Borough architect in response to the rapidly declining population Blackburn. Our research explored the political, architectural and landscape factors influencing the design strategies for these three phases and how these manifests in the form, liveability and longevity for each of the estates to build a picture of why both the high-rise estates were demolished in the early 2000’s.

 

We found a great sense of optimism and care for the welfare of the Blackburn’s population at the centre of the post war regeneration. Crabtree led a responsive planning department whose sensitivity to emerging research of the time included the shift away from state-led infrastructure to General Improvement Areas. As part of our research, we produced a photo essay which in itself acts as a visual archive of Delph Lane Estate.