Editing Accrington (section)

===Poverty, regeneration and investment===

Some areas of Accrington have high levels of [[Poverty in the United Kingdom|poverty]] and deprivation.<ref name="Gouk_2020">{{cite news |last1=Earnshaw |first1=Tom |last2=Gouk |first2=Annie |title=Child poverty devastating Lancs- and where it is having the worst impact |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/child-poverty-devastating-lancashire-having-18142327 |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=LancsLive |date=26 April 2020}}</ref> In one area of the town in 2020, 77% of children were living in poverty.<ref name="Gouk_2020"/> Deprivation increased in Accrington from 2004 to 2010.<ref name="Hall 2013 p. 21">{{cite book | last=Hall | first=P. | title=Good Cities, Better Lives: How Europe Discovered the Lost Art of Urbanism | publisher=Taylor & Francis | series=Planning, History and Environment Series | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-134-54567-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XK_AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 | access-date=25 March 2023 | page=21}}</ref> The Accrington Town Centre Investment Plan 2022-2032 states "Accrington has severe pockets of deprivation – particularly around employment, income and living environment - which has been getting worse during the last 20 years".<ref name="Inv_Plan_2022">{{cite web |title=Accrington Town Centre Investment Plan 2022-2032 |url=https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Accrington-TCIP-70122.pdf |publisher=Hyndburn Borough Council |access-date=25 March 2023 |date=2022}}</ref>

The council has a regeneration plan in place, which will, according to the council, boost the local economy. The plan is to upgrade old shops and to build a bus station. A memorial for the [[Accrington Pals]] may be built outside the town hall.

The Hyndburn Borough Council plans to spend £10 million to refurbish the town centre, including:

*Revitalising the town square to attract visitors.<ref name="Inv_Plan_2022"/>
*Building a new bus station. Plans for the new bus station were put forward in January 2013 and approved in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/new-accrington-bus-station-open-1293994|title=New Accrington bus station open by 2015|first=Jon|last=Macpherson|year=2013|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-approved-controversial-accrington-bus-7947716|title=Plans approved for controversial Accrington bus station scheme|first=Beth|last=Abbit|year=2014|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> The bus station was completed during and officially opened on 11 July 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/gallery-new-accrington-bus-station-11598056|title=GALLERY: New Accrington bus station officially opens|first=Jon|last=Macpherson|year=2016|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> The new station was criticised by traders as the old station was closer and easier to get to.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/traders-fears-new-accrington-bus-6252001|title=Traders fears new Accrington bus station could put them out of business|first=Beth|last=Abbit|year=2013|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/angry-market-hall-traders-petition-11701657|title=Angry Market Hall traders petition for bus stop after 'loss of trade'|first=Jon|last=Macpherson|year=2016|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>

Half of Blackburn Road is being refurbished and is now being made into a more attractive shopping street, upgrading shops, adding more trees, and repaving the pavements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9462632.Major_work_to_enhance_Blackburn_town_centre_streets_underway/|title=Major work to enhance Blackburn town centre streets underway|website=Lancashire Telegraph|access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>

As of 2014, two new phases were being built: the first one called the Acorn Park, where new houses were being built with balconies and greener spaces, and Project Phoenix, which will also include new housing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Macpherson |first1=John |title=Accrington 100 homes plan gets go-ahead |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/accrington-100-homes-plan-gets-6521594 |access-date=3 October 2020 |work=LancsLive}}</ref>