On February 22, Preston Partnership will host its first #InTheCity event, open to passionate Prestonians from the private and public sector to celebrate and discuss the future of our prosperous city.

One of our strategic aims is to bring together an ambitious community of people determined to help Preston realise its potential. Our #InTheCity event series will allow our members to learn about upcoming projects, have their say on big Preston issues, and build relationships over coffee and a croissant… or two.

The first event will feature an introduction and update from the Preston Partnership board, followed by a devolution debate hosted by chair John Chesworth with senior Lancashire County Council representatives.

Where: Cotton Court Business Centre, Church Street, Preston, PR1 3BY.

When: Thursday, February 22 2024 | 8.00am – 10.00am

Schedule:

8.00am-8.30am | Registration and networking
8.30am-8.45am | Preston Partnership update
8.45am-9.45am | Project update and workshop
9.45am-10am | Summary and close

This is a free event, but there are only 80 spaces available, so book your space soon to avoid disappointment.

Plans for a £9.7million sports hub, café, football pitches and pedestrian access routes for Preston’s Ashton Park have been submitted for planning approval by Eric Wright Construction on behalf of Preston City Council following a report that was approved by full December Council.

The facility will include six grass pitches, a 3G sports pitch and is part of the city’s Active Preston project, designed to encourage more people in the city to participate in healthy activities and improve the wellbeing of Preston residents.

It will enable thousands of young people year-round access to both natural and all-weather sports facilities and improve the local provision for playing grassroots sports.

The development will be funded by a £9.5million contribution from the £20m of Levelling Up funding which was awarded to the Council earlier in the year, having pledged to create improved sports facilities as part of the local bid.

Eric Wright Construction has been appointed to design and construct the facility and work is planned to commence on site in summer 2024 targeting completion by late summer 2025.

The scheme includes the design and construction of a two storey 1,395 sq m sports hub building, which will comprise a reception area for community use, changing facilities and café on the ground floor with admin offices, meeting rooms and classrooms on the first floor together with a studio and games room.

Eric Wright Construction will also undertake the demolition of the existing changing facility which is no longer fit for purpose, widening of the access road off Pedders Lane and creating enhanced access and car parking including electric vehicle charging provision.

Alongside the 3G pitch, the new facilities will include six grass pitches. Various footpaths will be introduced across the park which will improve pedestrian access, accessibility for wheelchair users and connectivity.

The scheme will also include significant soft landscaping including the planting of shrubs and trees to promote and enhance the local ecology.

Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety said: “This investment won’t just improve the park, it will transform the area. Subject to planning permission being secured, we are creating a brand new, publicly-owned community hub that will deliver a range of services and improve the quality of life for local residents, grassroots sports clubs and the wider Preston community.”

James Eager, director of Eric Wright Construction added: “We are really proud to have been appointed to bring forward this super sports facility in our hometown of Preston.

“It will be a superb asset for the city helping to improve the health of the community and we are looking forward to making a start on site once planning is secured.

“The new facilities will enable youngsters to play various sports all year round, accommodate class-based learning and activities whilst improving fitness, health and well-being as well as the ability to compete and be eligible for competitions.”

Preston-based Cassidy + Ashton is the appointed architect and town planner on the project.

Director and architect Lawrence McBurney said: “Sport plays a vital role in the health of adults and children and this new facility will provide first class facilities for the local community.

“Working alongside a team of consultants, we have designed a building and external space that will bring new energy to the park that has been underused for many years due to the poor ground conditions.”

Amounderness House will undergo a £7.4 million refurbishment and is one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, for which the City was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021.

Harris Quarter is a unique area of Preston undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering, with Amounderness House located beside the £45m Animate cinema and leisure complex, which is under construction and due to open in Spring 2025.

The refurbishment of Amounderness House, originally built in 1857 as a police station with several holding cells, will be transformed into a high-quality modern, flexible, multi-use workspace hub that Wrkspace will operate.

Designed by FWP Architects, the sympathetic refurbishment of the Grade II listed building will create 26 offices circa 645 sq. ft and four craft or retail studios. In addition, the existing courtyard will be updated and open for public use.

Maple Grove Developments is working with Preston City Council and Wrkspace as Project/Development Manager to deliver the project.

Chair of Preston Partnership, John Chesworth, said: “It’s fantastic to see this magnificent building being brought back into use as it will help stimulate business, cultural, and community uses in Preston city centre.

“We are making significant progress in regenerating the Harris Quarter and seeing a ripple effect of interest in what Preston is achieving as an attractive place to live, work and play.”

Leader of Preston City Council, Cllr Matthew Brown, added: “On the back of this excellent news we can transform Amounderness House and capitalise on this asset being in public ownership and using it to support growing local businesses.

“Furthermore, in line with our Community Wealth Building principles we’re working with Preston-based Wrkspace to run this important heritage asset as it helps to boost our economy.”

Nik Puttnam, senior development manager with Maple Grove Developments, added: “Bringing new purpose to older buildings like Amounderness House is rewarding and we’re looking forward to making a start on the transformation of this superb historic building.

“Renovating listed buildings comes with its challenges, especially one that has been vacant for so long, but when complete it will complement other projects in the Harris Quarter and be an economic driver for the city centre .”

Rizwan Seth, managing director of Wrkspace, concluded: “The Wrkspace team is looking forward to welcoming Amounderness House into our flexible office space portfolio. The addition of a high quality city centre provision, compliments the existing business centre offering across the North West.

“Amounderness House will be a beacon for growth for new and existing businesses within Preston, encouraging flexible workspace provisions as the ever changing working requirements evolve”.

Smith & Love Planning Consultants submitted the application on behalf of Preston City Council and the wider project team for Amounderness House includes Cowburn-Watson Box, SCP Transport, Eden Heritage, E3P, TRP Consulting, and Graham Schofield Associates.

The Harris, one of Preston’s most iconic cultural institutions, is thrilled to announce its 130th anniversary on the 26 October 2023. This remarkable milestone is not only a celebration of history but also a testament to The Harris’ commitment to progress and transformation.

Since its beginning in 1893, The Harris has been a beacon of culture and learning in the heart of Preston. Over the past century and a quarter, it has evolved into a vibrant hub for the community, a treasure trove of knowledge, and a space where creativity thrives.

To mark this momentous occasion, The Harris is embracing the future with the Harris Your Place project, an ambitious £16 million undertaking aimed at redefining its role in the 21st century.

This visionary project is restoring and reimagining The Harris as a space that bridges the past and the future, a community, cultural, and learning centre that engages and inspires all.

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for Arts and Culture at Preston City Council, said: “As we celebrate The Harris’s 130th anniversary, we are not just looking back on history, but forward to a future where culture, community, and innovation unite.

“The Harris Your Place project is a testament to our commitment to enriching lives and preserving our heritage. Together, we embark on a journey where the past inspires the future”

Designed by James Hibbert in the neoclassical style, the building has long been admired for its grandeur. The intricate detailing and magnificent facade has made The Harris an iconic Preston landmark for over a century.

The Harris Your Place project, while preserving the building’s historic charm, will incorporate modern elements that ensure it remains a symbol of innovation and progress.

The Harris has a rich history that spans more than a century. From its early days as a gift to the people of Preston by Edmund Robert Harris to its evolution into a vibrant cultural institution, The Harris has continually adapted to the changing needs of the community.

The Harris Your Place project will honour this legacy by creating spaces that celebrate the history and heritage of the building, offering visitors the opportunity to connect with Preston’s past.

As The Harris celebrates its remarkable 130th birthday, it’s inspiring to reflect on how far it’s come since the very first day of opening. Back in 1893, the doors were opened by Lord Derby and welcomed eager visitors following a procession through the city centre.

Speeches, prayers and performances from the Bijou Naval orchestra accompanied by a chorus of thirty voices were highlights of the celebratory opening event.

As The Harris prepares to reopen in 2025, the Harris Your Place capital project is set to ensure the highest standards of safety, quality, and preservation for the treasured Grade I listed building.

The commitment to preserving the Grade I listed building has evolved with the times, incorporating accessibility enhancements and a renewed focus on community empowerment, ensuring the reopening in 2025 is nothing short of extraordinary.

The leader of Preston Partnership has revealed plans to help Preston realise its potential following a relaunch of the organisation.

The message comes from John Chesworth, chair of Preston Partnership, after the organisation secured new funding and unveiled a new board and management team.

Preston Partnership, which has over 100 members, originally formed in 2018 with Preston City Council and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

The organisation led the creation of Preston’s Towns Fund board which secured £20.9million in 2021 to kick-start a £200m regeneration of the city’s cultural Harris Quarter.

Working with Preston City Council, Preston Partnership has now secured £80,000 of funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The funding will enable the partnership to create a dedicated team and resource to grow its membership base, better represent the private sector and work together with Preston’s anchor institutions including Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, UCLan and other partners to shape and implement future regeneration plans and promote the city.

Activities will also include regular events to improve communication between the private and public sector.

The board will be chaired by John Chesworth, executive chairman of Lancashire and Cumbria law firm, Harrison Drury.

Other board members include:

• Rob Binns, owner Cotton Court and Lancashire chair, Downtown Lancashire in Business
• Alban Cassidy, director, Cassidy + Ashton
• Karen Hirst, managing director, Maple Grove Developments
• Babs Murphy, CEO, North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Adrian Phillips, CEO, Preston City Council
• Rizwan Seth, founder and managing director, Wrkspace
• Simon Turner, CEO, Freshfield
• Ginette Unsworth, director of Communications and events, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

Beckie Joyce, founder and CEO of regeneration consultancy, Radics Consulting, has been appointed to lead Preston Partnership’s operations team. Beckie was previously head of strategic development at Lancashire County Council and has held senior development roles at Bolton Council and Manchester City Council, working alongside Sir Howard Bernstein.

As part of Preston’s Towns Fund bid, Preston Partnership helped create the City Investment Plan (CIP), a 15-year vision for Preston which sets out the city’s long-term objectives and strategy to transform Preston.

Speaking on the relaunch, John Chesworth, said: “There is positive change flowing through Preston. The £200m Harris Quarter programme is gathering momentum, we have a world-class university that has transformed the city, an award-winning city living strategy, numerous public realm projects and a growing cultural and independent leisure offering.

“Preston also has a hugely diverse and talented private sector that wants to be better represented. Our ambitious membership sees huge opportunities to grow Preston as a place to live, visit, invest in and do business, and we want to harness this ambition with the public sector to shape Preston’s future.

“We don’t aspire to be another Manchester or Liverpool. We have our own identity and strengths, and an opportunity to be a small giant of a modern city at the heart of Lancashire’s evolution.”

John was also part of the Winckley Square Community Interest Company which worked with Preston City Council to secure a £1.2million Heritage Lottery Fund grant to regenerate Winckley Square Gardens in 2016.

John added: “Preston’s Towns Fund success and the Winckley Square project are perfect examples of how partnership can impact places and lives. We believe that by working together we can grow Preston, positively impacting its people, communities and businesses.”

Adrian Phillips, chief executive of Preston City Council, added: “The relaunch of Preston Partnership provides an important platform for the voices of Preston’s business community, and is a significant step forward in harnessing public and private sector collaboration.

“Building and strengthening our existing partnerships and creating new ones is the key to successful future regeneration and investment in the city.”

Membership of Preston Partnership is free until August 30 2024.

According to research carried out by Conlon Construction, the construction company behind the regeneration of Preston’s iconic Harris Museum, the project is helping to boost the local economy.

The £16m Harris Your Place project, which Preston-based Conlon Construction is the principal contractor on and is delivering approximately £9m of work, has so far seen £3,479,212 spent within PR postcodes with local supply chain companies.

In addition, 286 local people within a 30-mile radius have worked on the project which has also generated more than 500 apprentice days to-date.

The Harris Your Place project sees the refurbishment of the Grade I listed museum, art gallery and library to enhance and protect the building for future generations. It is one of six major projects within the £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, which is set to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Leader of Preston City Council, Cllr Matthew Brown, said: “Seeing these economic benefits being delivered by our ambitious but realistic investment programme was central to our thinking. We wanted to ensure that our regeneration of Preston would enhance our economy by using a community wealth-building approach to target spend on local business and employ local people many of whom live in Preston. It’s heartening to see our objectives come to fruition and pay dividends socially and economically. This once again is the Preston Model in action.”

Chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Strategic Board, John Chesworth, added: “When designing the Towns Fund Investment Programme, we wanted to ensure that local people and businesses would benefit from the transformation of the city’s key assets in the Harris Quarter.

“The projects now being delivered are creating real economic impact, and we’re only at the start of what we’re looking to achieve.”

Chairman of Conlon Construction, Michael Conlon, added: “As a proud Prestonian business, it’s imperative that our supply chain draws from the wealth of outstanding people on our very doorstep. Some of our longest supplier relationships are with local businesses who possess the same passion for excellence and the specialist skillsets that heritage projects like the Harris require. The works taking place on this much-loved city landmark are a prime example of delivering true economic benefit through employment, apprenticeships, training, work experience and more.”

Towns Fund – Town Deals

On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. See further details of the announcement.

Preston’s City Investment Plan is a 15-year vision for Preston, setting out Preston’s long-term objectives and strategy to transform the City, targeting resources and aligning public and private sector investments to respond to needs and capitalise on opportunities for positive change.

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme

Projects included in Preston’s £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme are:

• Animate – £45m multi-use entertainment and leisure complex anchored by a state-of-the-art cinema and bowling venue next to Preston Markets.
• Educate Preston -The creation of a new Careers and Employment, Information, Advice and Guidance Hub in the Harris Quarter.
• Renewal of Harris Quarter Assets – Investment to support the redevelopment of publicly-owned buildings in the Harris Quarter to support new cultural and community uses, including Amounderness House.
• Illuminate and Integrate – A project to deliver improved pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure, street lighting and other public realm improvements within the Harris Quarter.
• Preston Youth Zone – The development of Preston Youth Zone as a state-of-the-art facility for young people in Preston aged eight to 19.
• #HarrisYourPlace – The refurbishment of the Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library, enhancing and protecting the building for future generations.
• Preston Pop Ups – £1m pop-up programme of events bringing together a new temporary event spa.

Hollywood Bowl is coming to Preston as part of the city owned multi-million pound cinema and leisure complex, Animate.

This anchor operator, who specialise in operating large, high quality bowling centres, will open a new entertainment venue, which will feature 16 fully computerised lanes with plush seating, a stylish bar and diner and a cutting-edge amusement area, in the new development which will be located on the site of the former indoor market.

Animate will also include a cinema, new restaurants and bars, a car park, and new public square. Further confirmed occupiers will be announced in the coming months.

This scheme will bring growth and development to the city centre as well as bringing in over £7million of extra economic activity every year while creating 140 full time equivalent jobs.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council, said: “Welcoming Hollywood Bowl on-board the Animate scheme is a really positive step forward in our plans to bring this exciting city owned development to Preston for the whole community to benefit from.

“As well as bringing investment and jobs to the people of Preston, this key anchor operator will help support the regeneration of our city centre. This major family attraction is a first for the city centre and will complement our existing leisure offer.  It will bring people into Preston and further support our strongly established small business community.”

Laurence  Keen,  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  Hollywood  Bowl  Group,  said: “We  are  pleased  to  have secured another prime, high footfall destination to enable us to  continue to  execute on our new centre opening strategy. We’re delighted to be bringing the Hollywood Bowl brand to Preston and to be a part of the exciting development of the Animate leisure complex.”

Andrew Dewhurst, Director of Maple Grove Developments, commented: “We’re delighted to have secured Hollywood Bowl as the first named operator for Animate.  This exciting news contributes massively to Preston’s goal of creating a thriving, sustainable city centre with an outstanding leisure and entertainment offer.

“We recently submitted a new planning application for the Animate scheme with Preston City Council and expect to be able to announce further lettings over the winter months.”