Representatives from Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council and the main contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering, met on the banks of the River Ribble today to mark the next big milestone in the life of Preston’s famous Tram Bridge.

The Old Tram Bridge, which has been a key transport and active travel link for visitors and commuters between Preston and South Ribble for over 200 years, has been demolished in just 14 days, ahead of the projected timetable, making way for a new bridge to be installed.

The new tram bridge project, costing around £8m is a key project within the City Council’s ‘Active Preston’ programme, which is delivering over £20m of sustainable active travel and park regeneration schemes across the city.

Cllr Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council said: “This is a rare and historic occasion, a small snapshot in history where, for a brief moment Preston is without it’s iconic Tram Bridge. Today is the start of a new era for our bridge which will continue to deliver a really important sustainable active travel route in and out of the city for pedestrians, cyclists (and horses!) We can’t wait to see the construction commence which will serve our residents for many more generations to come.”

Cllr Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for Economic Development and Growth, Lancashire County Council, said: “The new bridge will restore an important active travel route between South Ribble and Preston city centre for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

“Providing good sustainable transport links that help people to stay healthy is a key aspect of our levelling up ambitions and is why we have contributed £1m to this worthwhile project.”

What’s next?

• Work on the foundations for the first of two piers in the river will start soon in order to complete before the winter period.
• Work to the abutments and the land pier can then be completed before work starts on the second river pier in Summer 2025.
• The bridge will be lifted into place in Autumn next year and work will complete by early 2026.
• In partnership with the Environment Agency and the Marine Management Organisation, the project team has taken significant measures to minimise the environmental impact of the demolition.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering spokesperson Diane Bourne, Managing Director said: “We are looking forward to delivering this much needed bridge, that will restore a link between Preston and South Ribble. Our team has considerable experience in highways and infrastructure improvements, especially the design and installation of bridges. We’re proud to have been appointed to this significant project that is in the heart of our community and will bring benefits to the local community for years to come.”

The new Tram Bridge is being delivered by Preston City Council part-funded by the £20m grant awarded by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) with an additional £1m from Lancashire County Council who are supporting and project managing the construction of the bridge alongside Eric Wright Civil Engineering.

Boasting a projected life span of 120 years, the bridge will provide a sustainable long term active travel route with minimal environmental impact.

The design, created by DYSE Structural Engineers and visualised by local architect Studio John Bridge, was unveiled earlier this year and reflects both the needs of the local community and the picturesque setting of the bridge.

Further information

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.

News courtesy Invest Preston.

Work on a significant project to improve the public realm and lighting near the new £45 million Animate leisure scheme has started work.

The Illuminate and Integrate works aim to encourage pedestrian and cycle movement at a section of Lancaster Road adjacent to the Market Hall and Old Vicarage Road.

Works include a pedestrian and cycle-friendly space with high-quality paving, trees, and other features such as public seating and an expanded circulation space around the market to create opportunities such as alfresco dining. This new space will also offer improved linkages to the St John Shopping Centre.

The project, part of the £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, will also incorporate additional lighting improvements.

Delivery of the scheme involves works to the Ormskirk junction from now for four weeks (finishing end of September 2024). This includes two weeks of night works. As part of the Animate scheme, the associated works on Ormskirk Road will enable access to the new underground car park.

Works on Old Vicarage commenced on the 28 August and will continue for a period of 12 weeks (finishing end November 2024).

The work being undertaken on Old Vicarage forms the first phase of the Illuminate and Integrate scheme and includes widening the pavement to improve pedestrian access, new lighting including projection lighting that will animate the street scene, and a new avenue of trees. The aim is to improve and make safer the pedestrian route from the bus station to the new £45m Animate scheme and Preston Markets.

The first phase of improvement works will cost approximately £1 million and is part funded by an £800k Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth grant by Lancashire County Council.

Phase 2 is expected to commence in spring 2025 and will involve Lancaster Road improvements and new lighting within the wider Harris Quarter.

Preston City Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building, said: “We’re thrilled to see this pivotal project in the Harris Quarter moving forward, complimenting other initiatives in the area, such as The Harris and Animate.

“The Illuminate and Integrate project will revitalise this part of the city centre, bringing fresh energy while also enhancing street safety.”

John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board, added: “While the Harris Quarter is well connected to the rest of the city centre via an existing network of streets, many of these routes are dated, having been designed around vehicular movement, limiting the potential for cycle and pedestrian use.

“Illuminate and Integrate will complement the excellent architecture within the Harris Quarter while improving the quality of the public spaces. A key aspect of the scheme is to encourage footfall and dwell time in the day and evening, which is allied to our vision for the Harris Quarter to be the go-to cultural destination in Preston.”

Nick Hague, project director at Maple Grove Developments, concluded: “The Illuminate and Integrate works are an important piece of the jigsaw in the regeneraton of the Harris Quarter and will help to stimulate cultural, economic and social viability.”

Further information

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. For more information, please see: www.prestoncommunitywealth.org

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 new temporary event space, artworks and improvements to public realm infrastructure, aimed at boosting visitor activity in the Harris Quarter

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

Preston City Council has agreed a 15-year lease with the Northern Lights Group (NLG) for a new food hall at Animate, the £45+ million entertainment and leisure complex, which is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments.

Animate has already attracted big names such as Arc Cinema and Hollywood Bowl, several national food retailer brands, forming part of the city’s ongoing regeneration programme.

The Northern Lights Group will create and run a cocktail bar and four bespoke food kiosks to be let to small businesses.

The Northern Lights Group is one of the region’s largest independent hospitality groups. Speaking on behalf of the company Joe Foster said: “This is another incredibly exciting opportunity for us. As part of our growth strategy, we have been identifying new locations across the region, and Animate is the perfect fit. We look forward to opening our doors in early 2025 and serving the people of Preston with delicious food.”

John Chesworth, chairman of Preston Partnership said: “Animate is a major asset in the city’s regeneration as it will help draw more people into Preston, but it’s acting as a catalyst for further growth and as footfall increases, we’ll undoubtedly see businesses want to invest here.

“Preston is really starting to flourish and we’re now seeing the fruits of everyone’s hard work in helping make the city an attractive place to live, work and play. The Northern Lights Group choosing Preston as a place to do business is a testament to what’s being achieved here.”

Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove Developments, continued: “The Northern Lights Group is well accustomed with the concept of food halls, successfully operating throughout the North West. Choosing Animate for this latest food hall concept only adds to the draw of Preston as a place to visit.

“In terms of the site development, Eric Wright Construction is continuing to make excellent progress. The brickwork is nearing completion, the tenterhook panels are installed, and the majority of the glass panelling is in place. We’re working towards a completion date this autumn. The tenants can then begin to fit out and furnish their units before Animate launches in early 2025.”

Animate is one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

Deputy Leader of Preston City Council, Cllr Martyn Rawlinson, said: “Our ambition for Animate has always been to provide independent operators to be part of this Council-owned entertainment and leisure development and trade alongside national brands which will help build a resilient and inclusive economy for all. Having the Northern Lights Group at Animate will help us deliver an attractive offer for the people of Preston and wider Lancashire while contributing to the city’s ongoing social and economic regeneration.”

Northern Lights Group will run the bar unit directly, but will be looking to recruit local operators for the other food outlets. The company has a strong social value ethos and provides ‘back into work’ training and ongoing support to local, start-ups and new food kiosk operators in the Food Halls through its business operation model. Its commitment to social value is supported by the Council, which will work with the Northern Lights Group in line with its ongoing commitment to Community Wealth Building in Preston.

Bosses at Northern Lights Group are also looking to appoint a local ambassador to a Board that will oversee the Preston Food Hall to strengthen and grow local community connections in the city.

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Bradys and Smith Young are the joint lettings agents for Animate and advised Maple Grove Developments. The letting leaves just two units available at Animate. For details visit Preston City Council – units to let in Animate.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

(Photographed above, left to right: Preston Partnership chair, John Chesworth; cabinet member for community wealth building at Preston City Council, Valerie Wise; and chief executive of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips)

The newly formed Preston Regeneration Board (PRB) has unveiled Preston 35, a new regeneration plan for Preston, projected to secure significant further investment across the city by 2035.

Preston 35 was revealed to the Preston Partnership community at our #InTheCity event last Thursday, in an introduction by Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council.

This follows in the wake of a successful launch to industry peers at the UK REiiF conference held in Leeds, in May, the UK’s largest real estate, investment and infrastructure forum with a delegation of over 13,000 eager to find the next UK hotspot for unlocking investment, regeneration and development.

The PRB includes senior representatives from Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Preston Partnership.

As the third biggest city in the North West, over £1bn of investment has already been delivered or committed in the city, ranking ‘The Best City for Quality of Life’¹ and the ‘Top UK City 2023 to Raise a Family.’²

Preston 35 is championing the city as an attractive place to do business and highlights six strategic, priority regeneration prospects that the city is driving forward over the next 11 years.

Adrian Phillips, Chief Executive of Preston City Council, outlined the PRB’s vision, priorities and objectives at the Preston Partnership event on July 25, hosted at the recently opened OneCoWork offices on Winckley Square, Preston.

Adrian said: “2035 provides us with a natural and realistic focus, that takes in the next Guild celebrations in 2032, to make some significant progress, take stock of how far we have come, and evaluate what still needs to be done.

“The city’s investment plan is always evolving and this new reiteration – Preston 35 – defines what we have already collectively achieved over the past decade, but more importantly, it focuses on what’s next and how much more we can achieve by working together.

“The key to successful place making and attracting significant inward investment for the city, that’s both meaningful and provides a lasting legacy for the people of Preston, is collaboration across public and private sectors, pooling our resources and working together with shared goals and objectives.”

John Chesworth, chair of Preston Partnership, said: “This exciting plan is partnership in action. The key Preston regeneration stakeholders leading the regeneration of Preston over the next decade have agreed key priorities and identified those projects which will contribute to their delivery.

“Prestonians want to see ambition for our city, and Preston 35 sets out a positive direction of travel. These projects will bring jobs, visitors and residents back into the city, and be a catalyst for further investment. I see this as a foundation from which we can kick on to bigger and better things.”

Some of the key regeneration propositions include:

• Preston Station East Phase 1 – a priority of the Station Quarter Masterplan to provide Grade A office space and deliver a landmark commercial-led, mixed-use development scheme.
• Harris Quarter Phase 2 – An opportunity to develop a thriving cultural, leisure and conference quarter, anchored by the redevelopment of the Guild Hall.
• Stoneygate Phase 2 – A focus on sites that can deliver new city centre residential, business and educational uses. An Urban Village Regeneration Area of 25 hectares.
• Innovate Preston – Positioning Preston at the heart of an innovation eco-system and a natural location for the National Cyber Facility supply chain.
• Preston Community Health Hub – An integrated ‘one-stop-shop’ of customer-facing health and wellbeing services as part of a wider drive to move services and interventions closer to the community.
• Access Preston – Cottam Parkway, a £35m new railway station on the Blackpool to Preston line, providing sustainable transport options to almost 10,000 new homes.

Wider projects in the pipeline include Preston Station Quarter future phases which include a masterplan for County Hill and University Walk, future phases on Stoneygate, Preston Riversway Docklands regeneration and a third River Ribble crossing.

To read the prospectus in full or to download a copy visit https://www.investprestoncity.com/

Lancashire County Council is set to host Convention of the North 2025, it can be revealed.

The event will be held at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston next year on the 27 and 28 of February 2025, with more details to be announced later this year.

Convention of the North 2025 will bring together business, community, academic, and political leaders to discuss how they can address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the North of England.

This year, the discussions will be crucial in the post-election period, where it is essential for the North to present a clear, coordinated, cross-party agenda to the new government.

Phillippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It’s a privilege to host the Convention of the North in Lancashire in 2025.

“This event provides a fantastic opportunity to unite our leaders across the North to respond collectively to the new government agenda and deliver on our ambitious regional plans.

“A successful North is a prerequisite for a successful UK economy. The scale, nature, and importance of the North means it has a vital role in driving national growth and the event provides an opportunity for Lancashire to showcase and align its exciting plans with neighbouring regions for advanced engineering and manufacturing, future aerospace, cyber security, and clean growth.”

Since its inception in 2018, Convention of the North has been a pivotal forum for fostering collaboration across sectors. Previous conventions have been held in Leeds, Gateshead, Rotherham, Liverpool, and Manchester, each building on the momentum to create a “powerful, unifying voice of the North.”

Professor Graham Baldwin, University of Central Lancashire Vice-Chancellor, said: “Convention of the North 2025 will continue the meaningful collaboration between Government, academia, and business for the good of the northern economy and we are delighted to be able to facilitate this.

“It’s wonderful news for the University of Central Lancashire, the city of Preston and the wider region that we are hosting this prestigious event.

“Fostering regional growth, innovation and collaboration across the North is essential to achieving the national aspirations for growth and development. Universities across the North are instrumental in this process so it is fitting that through hosting we can show what we and others have to offer.”

Clare Hayward MBE DL, Co-Chair of the Convention, said: “The Convention of the North is a remarkable opportunity to elevate the profile of the North on an international stage. As co-chair, I’m looking forward to taking part in some thought-provoking discussions about the future of our region.

“Each Convention presents a new opportunity to collaborate and build a thriving, well-connected North, unlocking the region’s full potential.”

Keynote speakers and the full programme will be announced later this year, promising an exciting and impactful agenda.

News courtesy of Convention of the North.

Our second #InTheCity event was held on Thursday April 24, 2024 at Cotton Court Business Centre, where a busy room made up of our members and guests gathered to learn more about the future of innovation in Preston and the opportunities that projects like the National Cyber Force (NCF) will create.

Positive Preston

The morning began with an update from Preston Partnership board member, Ginette Unsworth, who spoke about her upbringing in Preston and how, after living away from the city, she returned because of the ‘sense of community’ and the exciting opportunities in the city.

Ginette told how the partnership recently helped form a new Preston Regeneration Board (PRB), consisting of senior leaders from UCLan, Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the partnership.

The PRB is still in its infancy and would not act as a decision-making board but would focus on creating a single unified voice for future regeneration projects that can feed directly into the Partnership.

Ginette said: “We want to represent your views on this board, feeding up through the partnership and getting the collective view of Preston and what the community want to see.”

There was also an update on membership uptake following the relaunch of the partnership, which has seen 165 new members join since October 2023, as well as nine strategic partners who will form part of a new strategic advisory panel, advising on future policy.

Available opportunities

We were then joined by Holly Smith, innovation consultant at Plexal, who updated us on the work she has been commissioned to complete by the partnership that will help us better understand what innovation is currently happening in Preston and what resources need to be available.

Focussing on three key areas – identifying SMEs, recommending growth areas and identifying innovation space demand – the aim of Holly’s research is to ‘unlock technological progress and cause economic growth’ in our city, allowing our ecosystem to grow and capitalise on the innovation investment in our region.

She identified 162 SMEs currently operating in Preston, 18 of which were tech focussed, and revealed that Preston has received 0.4% of project funds awarded to Lancashire by Innovate UK (roughly £7.2million).

Holly gathered feedback from our members on the current innovation support in Preston. The results showed that there are a number of facilities (Shout Connect, Society1) and programmes (Boost, Edge Hill) in place, but that uptake was relatively low, and that the majority felt that access to innovation funding or grants could be improved.

Her work is ongoing, but she provided some early recommendations which included using groups like Preston Partnership to help deliver the city’s innovation story, creating a home for innovation in the city that includes Grade A office space, and forming innovation clusters made up of likeminded businesses that can be used to attract and retain talent.

She also mentioned further opportunities to increase support for innovation led SMEs by identifying an ecosystem leader who can join up the available support avenues and create connections within the industry.

The future of innovation in Preston

Next up was our innovation panel, which included Dave Carter, honorary knowledge exchange fellow at the University of Manchester; Maya Ellis, innovation lead at Lancashire County Council; and Victoria Millsop, business development manager of cyber solutions at UCLan.

The main topic of discussion was the arrival of the National Cyber Force in early 2025, and the wave of specialist talent that will provide positive social, cultural and educational benefits to the region.

Established in 2020, the NCF is a partnership between defence and intelligence comprising GCHQ, the Ministry of Defence, MI6, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

Victoria detailed the university’s involvement in securing the NCF which was put forward at a Lancashire Cyber Partnership Event last November.

This was followed by another event where the NCF spoke openly about their plans in the region and met with members of the public to get a sense of what Lancashire needs – the response was positive, with plans to do another in the near future.

Maya was asked about the upcoming devolution deal and what the council are doing to progress innovation in the region.

She said: “The council has invested “£6million to create a physical space that will enhance what the NCF are doing and attract and retain world class talent.”

She also stated that the bigger role the council plays is by facilitating organisations like the Preston Partnership to ensure everyone’s voice is heard when making decisions about the future of innovation in the city.

Dave then spoke on the arrival of the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) in Manchester and how his city handled a similar situation that Preston is in right now.

He said: “The focus needed to be on facilitating GCHQ’s plans to attract local talent from business clusters and graduate schemes in order to best nurture the local economy. This can be done by forging strong relationships with universities and SMEs in the region.”

He advised that Preston should do the same by following the recommendations outlined by Holly, highlighting that a strong relationship with UCLan and local innovation centres is critical, as well a strong arts and culture scene and nighttime economy that employees and visitors can enjoy outside of working hours.

Maya moved on to discuss the connectivity between Preston and Salmesbury, and while there are no plans currently to connect the two by rail or tram network, Lancashire County Council are pushing for a membership-based hub near the train station that would provide its employees and visitors with an alternative and more accessible place to visit, work and hold meetings.

Dates for your diary

Ginette closed off the event by reminding our guests about the benefits of joining the partnership, encouraging them to become part of a growing movement to drive Preston forward.

She also shared details of the next #InTheCity event, which will focus on working in Preston, taking place on Thursday July 11 at OneCoWork, in Winckley Square, Preston.

Ginette reminded guests that members of the Preston Partnership board will be attending the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), from 21 to 23 May in Leeds.

As well as having a stand, our chair John Chesworth be taking part in the ‘Fuelling Lancashire’s Future’ panel debate, which promises insights into the collaborative potential among the private sector, public sector, and universities in Lancashire to foster more opportunities and drive sustainable growth.

The debate will take place at The Cinema Stage Royal Armouries on Wednesday 22 May at 2:15pm.

For further information on our events programme, visit www.prestonpartnership.org/news-and-events/.

Fancy becoming a member?

If you would like to join a community of over 175 members that is helping Preston realise its potential, head over to our join page and choose your membership package.

A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the highest point of the build at Preston’s Animate leisure complex, the latest milestone in the £45 million+ scheme, one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Animate is being brought forward by Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, in partnership with Preston City Council.

The leisure complex is being built on the site of the former indoor market and car park and due to open to the public in early 2025.

Almost fully pre-let, Animate will feature an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling alley with gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, public realm, a competitive socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, with national leisure brands including

Hollywood Bowl, ARC Cinemas, Zizzi, Cosmo, Las Iguanas and Loungers already signed up as tenants.

Those attending the topping out included Cllr Yakub Patel, mayor of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, chief executive of the city council and Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments.

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, added: “Animate is the flagship project of the Harris Quarter regeneration programme, heralding a new era for Preston and its residents. Owned by the city council to benefit local people, the construction of Animate has involved local contractors and enhanced the skills and learning of young people with essential on-the-job experience.

“Crucially, such development and regeneration forms a key part of the council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building, designed to create a resilient and inclusive economy to benefit the whole area by offering an opportunity for local people to take back control while working with local institutions.”

John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board and Preston Partnership, said: “The topping out represents another key moment in the delivery of Animate and in the ongoing renaissance of Preston as we progress our wider plans to create places for people.

“Having secured high-profile and established national leisure brands, Animate will provide an unrivalled offering of activities to drive footfall and wider economic benefits for Preston and surrounding areas.”

Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments, development partner of Preston City Council, concluded: “This milestone in the delivery of Animate marks the highest point of the build and the successful culmination of the collaborative efforts of the client, design, and construction teams.

“Animate is an exemplar of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together in partnership to great effect for the wider community and economy of Preston.”