It doesn't have a railway station, and its swimming pool, named after the founding father of the NHS, is 45 years old. A recent report identified a series of pockets of poverty within its population.
But signs of a real renaissance are finally emerging in the "forgotten town" of Skelmersdale in West Lancashire. And a successful bid for £17m of government Levelling Up cash could deliver a turnaround in its fortunes.
Set off the M58, new homes are springing up, and a new retail centre under construction since January is beginning to take shape. The first of the brand new stores, Lidl, opened its doors last week, while a B&M Bargains store and a third retailer are due to open nearby.
