“Relentless stress” of Blackpool Council’s CPO process contributed to Alistair Taylor’s death, inquest finds
31 October 2025
Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver represented Alistair Taylor’s family pro bono during the inquest at Blackpool Coroner’s Court. Credit: Credit: Derick Hudson / Shutterstock.
An inquest into the death of Alistair Taylor has found that the enforced sale of his home by Blackpool Council was among contributing factors to the 34-year-old’s suicide.
At the conclusion of the inquest on Friday (17 October 2025), Blackpool’s Senior Coroner Alan Wilson found that the process of Blackpool Council issuing Alistair with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) played a “more than minimal role” in his death.
Coroner Wilson also highlighted the difficulties caring for children who have “significantly challenging” behavioural needs, the breakdown of Alistair’s marriage, and exposure to potentially harmful social media content. Alistair’s family gave evidence that these videos changed his behaviours and jeopardised his relationships.
Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver represented Alistair’s family pro bono during the inquest.
Alistair’s story
Alistair, a father-of-four, was a highly regarded barber with his own shop, having been voted as Blackpool’s best barber. He was described as funny, caring and thoughtful, often looking out for others and advocating loudly for male mental health.
In 2022, Blackpool Council informed Alistair it intended to purchase and demolish his home to create space for its multiversity development, a £65m education campus which will be known as University Centre Blackpool (UCB).
Alistair’s family faced greater challenges than most. When he bought his home in 2016, he adapted it to meet the disability needs of two of his four children, who can be violent either towards themselves or property during difficult episodes.
Alistair’s father Paul described him as feeling trapped in a “vicious circle”, a culmination of long delays in the relocation process and Alistair believing the family was ineligible for financial support to adapt the current home due its impending demolition.
The sale was formally approved shortly after Alistair’s death, but he died believing the process had not been completed. During the first day of evidence, Alistair’s father, brother and estranged wife Donna all said that the other stressors in Alistair’s life were either caused or worsened by the process of the CPO.
The inquest heard that, in the months leading to his death, Alistair and Donna separated and living separately. Meanwhile, two of his sons’ autism conditions had become more behaviourally challenging. Alistair also began working longer hours amid the financial uncertainty of the cost of his new home.
Alistair was found dead at his home in October 2024.
The Coroner’s findings
Coroner Wilson agreed that Blackpool Council should have given greater priority to the needs of the family.
Pointing to an email sent from Donna, Coroner Wilson said it was clear the council was aware of the extent of the challenges facing the Taylors.
“The family found themselves in a situation which required a different approach,” Coroner Wilson said. While noting that Alistair felt he had been “bullied, cajoled and intimidated by the council”, he rejected this was the case. “There was a lack of focus and thought but not ill-feeling”.
Coroner Wilson also noted that the council’s witness struggled to explain why an equality assessment might be relevant for a family with children who have additional needs.
These findings raise serious questions about how councils nationwide use the power of CPOs, and whether there are proper safeguards in place for families under pressure.
Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver was instructed by Gareth Hancock of Hudgell Solicitors to represent Alistair’s family.
If you are affected by the issues in this release, Samaritans are available 24/7. Call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org.
Additional media
The Blackpool Lead – Enforced sale of Alistair Taylor’s home to Blackpool Council contributed to his suicide, coroner rules
Manchester Evening News – Dad, 34, who saw council seize his home and end business lease took his own life
Hudgell Solicitors – Blackpool Council accused of causing ‘relentless stress’ on dad who took his own life after ‘hostile tactics’
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
