Our first #InTheCity event of 2026 brought Preston Partnership members and guests together at OneCoWork. We welcomed over 80 business and civic leaders, entrepreneurs and their teams to explore Preston’s residential sector. 

Preston Partnership Update 

Chair of Preston Partnership John Chesworth provided an update on activity, including Preston’s response to the consultation on Local Government Reorganisation; the Partnership’s new free membership; and sponsorship of the first Proud Preston Awards. 

Housing Delivery in Preston 

Director of Development and Housing for Preston City Council, Chris Hayward opened his presentation with a quote from housebuilding lobby group Britain Remade: 

Relative to its housing targets, Preston built more housing than anywhere else in England from 2021 to 2024. Since local housing targets were introduced in 2018, Preston has exceeded its target by a substantial margin every year.

Chris’ point? That there are lessons that other cities can learn from Preston.

Chris explored in more detail the reasons for this growth, particularly the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal which provided essential infrastructure to support the scale of housing growth in North-West Preston as well as the role of the Central Lancashire Local Plan, and cultural change in the Council and on the Planning Committee. 

Chris went on to talk about Making Homes from Houses Project working with Gateway Housing Association to bring empty homes back to life. 

Chris highlighted the work of Preston’s City Living Strategy in promoting residential opportunities in the City Centre.

Panel Discussion 

Following his presentation, Chris joined our panel to broaden out the discussion on residential activity in the city.

• John Heaton, Managing Director for the Heaton Group – a specialist property company with a portfolio and pipeline of residential and commercial developments throughout the North West. John talked about their pioneering residential developers in Preston City Centre, including the exciting plans for the Park Hotel. 
• Stuart Sage, Founder and Director of Hive Land and Planning, an award-winning planning and surveying practice. Stuart talked about the work they are doing with Preston City Council, Homes England and developers to deliver the City Centre Living Strategy (put link here) 
• Claire Lowe, Head of Space and Property Management at University of Lancashire, which has over 30,000 students and academics at it’s Preston Campus. Claire talked about the importance of culture and events to attract and retain students and staff.  
• Stephen Heverin, Growth and Regeneration Director for Onward Homes, one of the largest registered providers of social housing in the North West Stephen talked about the renewal of their estate in and around Stoneygate, a key regeneration priority for the City.

Closing Remarks 

Following audience questions the panel were asked 

what is the one change you would make tomorrow to turn Preston in to the North’s most desirable postcode?

Answers included: making sure that the City has a multi-purpose venue for cultural and business events; strengthening collaboration between the public and private sector; targeted funding to help deliver priority housing sites; new office space to attract well paid job opportunities; and focussed support from government agencies including Homes England. 

We are pleased to announce that the Preston Partnership Board has secured funding from Preston City Council that will enable the Partnership to continue to fulfill its important role in the city. 

This funding also means that the Partnership can move into its next, subscription-free phase, allowing local entrepreneurs, businesses and organisations to join Preston Partnership and attend our quarterly events free of charge.

There will also be opportunity for collaborations and one-off sponsored events to complement our regular activity.

Leader of Preston City Council, Councillor Matthew Brown said,

“We are pleased that we have a bit of a larger budget to play with this year and therefore able to support some ongoing key projects that were previously funded by UK government, of which the Preston Partnership is one. The Preston Partnership is integral to collaborative working between the public and private sectors in the city’s regeneration journey and is a strong voice representing the business community in the city, in its strategic role as a partner on the Preston Regeneration Board, the first of its kind in Lancashire.”

Chair of Preston Partnership, John Chesworth said,

“This is great news for the Partnership and its members.  We are really pleased to have two of Preston’s anchor institutions, the BID and the City Council, behind us as we move forward into a new way of operating.

Members can still expect to see high quality quarterly events and know that we will continue to work alongside public sector bodies to unlock investment and other opportunities. Preston Partnership has a very important role to play in Preston, more now than ever with local government reorganisation (LGR) on the horizon, and this funding secures our place in the landscape.”

Interested in becoming a member of Preston Partnership? Request to join now.

Last week we were proud to be sponsors of the first ever Proud Preston Awards, celebrating Prestonians who are doing extraordinary things for their communities. 

The awards ceremony,

held at Barton Manor Hotel, saw more than 200 people come together, representing Preston’s communities, charities and businesses, with special guest Councillor Sue Whittam, Mayor of Preston. 

“Just by being in this room, you’re a winner – all of you,” Mayor of Preston, Councillor Sue Whittam.

Hosted by John Gillmore and Neetal Parekh, the event was a true celebration of all things Proud Preston – with winners having the opportunity to share their personal stories and thanking their wider support networks and communities for all of the hard work that happens behind the scenes. 

The award categories recognised outstanding achievements from across the community and business sectors in Preston:

• Volunteer of the Year
• Carer of the Year
• Arts and Culture Hero of the Year
• Charity Hero of the Year
• Inspirational Young Leader
• Community Initiative of the Year
• Business in the Community Award
• Inclusive Leadership Award
• Environmental Hero of the Year
• Active Inspiration Award
• Education Award
• Lifetime Hero
• Proud Preston Award

On the night, Board Member and Director, Alban Cassidy represented Preston Partnership to present the Community Initiative of the Year award to winners Bounce Back Netball. Bounce Back Netball engages more than 800 women in accessible netball, promoting well-being and community. 

“We [Bounce Back Netball] began after Covid when we realised women in Preston were not getting the sporting opportunities and physical and mental health was suffering. Netball is a platform, a community and it’s all about empowering women and creating equality.”

Editor-in-chief for Iconic Media in the North West, Nicola Adam set the tone for the night perfectly when she said, “Like so many of you I live in, work and care very much about Preston…In a world where it is easy to be selfish or complacent, you have risen your head above the parapet and deserve to be celebrated.”

The awards were a collaboration between Preston City Council, Lancashire Post, Central Radio and Blog Preston, with a wide range of business sponsors (including Preston Partnership). 

You can see the full list of winners on Blog Preston

2026 has had a busy start behind the scenes for Preston Partnership. We have been working alongside our strategic partners to navigate the Partnership into its next phase, progress our shared ambition of helping Preston realise its potential, and amplify the positive stories about Preston to audiences far and wide.

I am really pleased to share that Preston Partnership has secured funding, from Preston Business Improvement District and Preston City Council to enable us to evolve to our next phase of operations. What this funding means is that we can move away from subscription-based membership (making membership and our quarterly events free of charge), and re-focus our energy on working toward our core aims:

• Build an ambitious partnership
• Shape Preston’s future
• Tell Preston’s story

We are extremely grateful to both Preston Business Improvement District and Preston City Council for their generous support that will enable us to facilitate the Partnership and quarterly programme in the most effective way.

I would also like to draw your attention to the current Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) consultation. You may recall that the Partnership formally threw our support behind proposals to create a new unitary authority  for Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire. Now it is your turn to have your say. You can view all of the proposals and give your responses on the dedicated LGR website for Lancashire.

Finally, I am thrilled to announce that Preston Partnership is a sponsor for the Proud Preston Awards, a celebration of the people, organisations and initiatives that make this city such a vibrant and inspiring place to live and work. Congratulations to all of the finalists who were announced earlier this week, it is great to see so many worthy nominations across the wide variety of categories.

Join us for our first quarterly panel event for 2026: Preston Residential.

Date: 26 March

Time: 8am – 10am

Place: OneCoWork – 33-34 Winckley Square, Preston PR1 3JJ.

Our guest speaker, Chris Hayward, and our panel will be explore topics such as:

• How Preston’s residential offer is growing.
• The ingredients for successful City Living.
• Emerging plans for Stoneygate.

While you’re there, you’ll have the opportunity to network over hot drinks and breakfast foods with a room full of professionals, including business and public sector leaders. 

As always, this event will be a great chance to keep up to date with what is happening in Preston.

Space is limited, so book your free ticket now.

About Chris Hayward, Director of Development and Housing, Preston City Council.

Chris has worked in local government for several Lancashire authorities for over 37 years. He has overseen the growth and regeneration of Preston over the last 15 years, including the City Deal, a £450m programme of infrastructure investment creating 20,000 new jobs and 17,000 new homes. 

His planning background has ensured the development is plan-led, supporting the Council’s ambitious growth proposals. He is currently managing the delivery of over £200m of investment in the Harris Quarter in the city centre, including Preston’s new leisure offer and council-owned Animate.

Regeneration and tackling deprivation are at the heart of everything Preston City Council seeks to do, and in 2021 Chris and his planning and regeneration team were successful in helping the Council win the National RTPI Award for its City Living Strategy, the first NW winner.

Meet the panel:

Stuart Sage: Co-founder and Director of Hive Land & Planning, an award-winning planning and surveying practice. Stuart is a town planner with over 25 year’s experience in the public and private sector, with a track record of delivery. 

Claire Lowe: Head of Space & Property Management (interim) at The University of Lancashire. 

John Heaton: UK Property Investment Specialist and Owner of the Heaton Group, a specialist property development company with a substantial portfolio of commercial and residential property throughout the North West.

Stephen Heverin: Director of Growth & Regeneration at Onward Homes.

Make sure you save the date for our upcoming events:

• 25 June
• 24 September
• 26 November

About Preston Partnership

Preston Partnership is a private sector led membership organisation. We bring together businesses and the public sector to help make Preston a prosperous city to live, work, visit and invest in.

Find out more and become a member: www.prestonpartnership.org

By John Chesworth, chair, Preston Partnership

Shaping Preston’s future

This autumn marks an important milestone for Preston Partnership.

Not only does it signal two years since we relaunched the partnership in 2023 but it also coincides with the much anticipated reopening of the Harris Museum following its £19million transformation.

The Harris project demonstrates our wider role as a partnership – to help shape Preston’s future. Back in 2019, we played a pivotal role in establishing and chairing the Towns Fund board alongside other local leaders, which successfully secured a £20.9million Town Deal.

This unlocked a transformational £200million development programme for the Harris Quarter.

Already in 2025, the benefits of Preston Partnership’s early work are visible. Animate cinema and leisure scheme opened in February, attracting international brands and creating over 300 jobs. And now, with the Harris reopening, we are seeing another chapter of this regeneration come to life. Later this year, we will also see the opening of Preston’s Vault Youth Zone, another product of the Town Deal.

Although we remain a relatively small volunteer-led organisation, our board has big ambitions. Over recent months, Preston Partnership has secured representation on the Lancashire Business Board, the city’s Empty Property Alliance, Preston’s Anchor Board and has represented Preston in relation to Lancashire’s Growth Plan, which was launched in September.

During the summer, we also conducted a survey into Local Government Reorganisaion (LGR) which resulted in a call for Preston City Council to create a new unitary authority with Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire councils. Read the story here.

Preston Partnership is not a delivery body but, working together, we can enable, lobby and represent, and the above highlights the important steps we are taking to ensure Preston has a strong voice in shaping the region’s future.

Autumn will also see us take a deeper look at Preston’s new economic plan, a strategy commissioned by the partnership in collaboration with Metro Dynamics. This will be a feature at our next #InTheCity event on November 20 (full details to be released soon).

You can have a voice too. As a founding member of the Preston Regeneration Board – which includes the University of Lancashire, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council – we’re in a unique position to raise important questions about Preston’s regeneration and economic strategy.

If you have a question you want to ask, submit it by emailing info@prestonpartnership.co.uk.

Building an ambitious partnership

One of our core aims is to bring together an ambitious community determined to help Preston realise its potential. So far in 2025, we have helped create seven packed-out events, including our popular #InTheCity sessions, the Convention of the North gathering, and the entrepreneur-led ‘Been There, Built That’ series.

Each event has helped bring people together and create a real positive Preston vibe. Our post-event features can be found here. Our next ‘Been There, Built That’ event is on October 15. Book your place here.

While we introduced a modest £100 membership fee earlier this year, we are delighted to see new members join the partnership. These contributions support our work, enabling us to deliver events, commission research and represent Preston at the highest levels.

Telling Preston’s story

Events are only part of our work. We are equally committed to telling a positive story about Preston to audiences far and wide.

Working closely with our partners at Preston City Council, Invest Preston, University of Lancashire and Lancashire County Council, we are building a profile of a city that is ambitious, forward looking and open for business.

In recent weeks we have been part of a team that has hosted government ministers and senior civil servants, showcasing key strategic sites and ensure Preston is on the national radar.

A final word of thanks

Our next #InTheCity event is on November 20 and specific details will be released over the coming weeks.

For now, I want to express my gratitude to our volunteers, members, and strategic partners: BDP, Cassidy + Ashton, Core Network Group, Cotton Court, Eric Wright, Freshfield, Harrison Drury, Heaton Group, Hy Hotel, North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Story Homes, University of Lancashire, and Wrkspace.

Without your ongoing support, none of this would be possible. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for Preston.

If you’ve got a colleague, contact or fellow Preston enthusiast who should be part of the conversation, send them our way. Joining is easy and takes just a minute. It’s only £100 per year and these contributions help support our work. Point them to the ‘Join Us’ section of our website: https://www.prestonpartnership.org/join

Preston Partnership, has revealed 13 new strategic partners on the 12-month anniversary of its relaunch.

Preston Partnership relaunched in October 2023 and has since welcomed over 200 new members to the organisation.

The organisation represents the private sector to work with Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, UCLan and other partners to shape and implement future regeneration plans, while promoting the city.

The partnership can now reveal 13 new strategic partners, which will invest £2,000 per year to support the organisation’s activities. They include:

• BDP: International practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists
• Cassidy + Ashton: North west practice of architects, planners and surveyors
• Core Network Group: Provider of fibre, VoIP and IT infrastructure services to clients across the UK
• Cotton Court: Serviced and virtual office provider, along with business services
• Eric Wright: Lancashire-based property developer and construction group
• Freshfield: North west PR and communications consultancy
• Harrison Drury: North west law firm
• Heaton Group: UK property development company
• Hy Hotel: Leisure operator and property development group
• North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce: Lancashire’s largest private sector membership body
• Story Homes: Housing developer with schemes across the North West
• University of Central Lancashire
• Wrkspace: Serviced and virtual office provider, with sites across Preston

Senior representatives from the new partners will form Preston Partnership’s Strategic Advisory Panel and lead working groups across sector priorities.

Alongside support from UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Preston BID, the investment will also contribute to the running of Preston Partnership’s popular events programme, help commission evidence-based studies to inform policy makers, and support its efforts to promote Preston on a regional and national stage.

Speaking on the new partners, Beckie Joyce, Preston Partnership head of business development, said: “The strategic partners will be the engine room of the partnership and, working alongside our members, will help inform the strategic agenda of the partnership and our priorities.

“It’s a brilliant representation of sectoral talent with some national firms getting involved. This is testament to the appeal of Preston as a city on the rise with huge potential. It’s our role to help the city realise that potential and our partners will play an important part.”

Since Preston Partnership’s relaunch in October 2023, it has secured a place and a voice on the new Preston Regeneration Board (PRB), alongside the leaders of Lancashire County Council, Preston City Councils and UCLan.

It has also helped shape the new Preston 35 Regeneration Plan and launch at UKREiiF in May 2024, while powering the creation of the new Preston Innovates sub-group, which is running a series of innovation-themed events and initiatives to help the growth of innovation in Preston.

Over 400 people have also attended its four #InTheCity events, which have taken place across the city in 2024.

John Chesworth, chairman of Preston Partnership, added: “Our goal in Autumn 2023 was to build an ambitious partnership of over 100 members to help us shape Preston’s future and tell a relentlessly positive Preston’s story, and we have been bowled over by the interest.

“This reminds us that there is huge passion and intent from the private sector to see Preston evolve and grow, and become a dynamic economic engine of the Preston city region and the North.

“The calibre of the new strategic partners and the investment they have made will build on the momentum of the last 12 months.”

In Autumn 2024, Preston Partnership launched a consultation that will inform a new Preston Economic Plan, due to be revealed in 2025.

Beckie Joyce added: “We have 13 strategic partners and are now ready to open the doors for seven more. We welcome applications from businesses in the manufacturing, engineering, security, professional services, energy, transport and logistics sectors. It’s a great opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of Preston.”

Membership of Preston Partnership is £100 per year, with Strategic Partner membership £2,000 per year. For more information, visit www.prestonpartnership.org.

Preston Partnership 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.

Development updates, devolution and our branded badges were the hot topics covered at Preston Partnership’s first #InTheCity event of 2024.

The much-anticipated event was held on Thursday February 22, 2024, where over 80 members from the private and public sector gathered at Cotton Court Business Centre to hear about Preston Partnership and Preston’s role in Lancashire’s new devolution deal.

Positive Preston

Kicking proceedings off, our chair John Chesworth talked about the journey of the partnership and welcomed our new board members.

He said: “The partnership’s aim is to build closer ties between the public and private sector and to work with local authorities and partners to shape ideas and support investment opportunities.”

John highlighted Preston Partnership’s role in the creation of the Towns Fund board which secured £20.9m to kickstart the £200m Harris Quarter Investment Programme, and the partnership’s work in securing £80,000 through the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help relaunch Preston Partnership.

He also provided development updates on a number of key Preston projects such as Animate, Amounderness House, Preston Youth Zone and the Harris Your Place Project.

Speaking on the future, John said: “We want to build an ambitious community, one that will get Preston to where it should be; a city that is world renowned for its industry, a trailblazer in many ways, that can stand on its own nationally and internationally.”

He added: “While ambition is a good start, there is still plenty of work to be done. We’re looking to reengage with our members to help tell Preston’s story and build a relentlessly positive profile for our city.”

Preston Partnership has a role to play in devolution

Next up, Andy Walker, head of business growth and innovation, and Pete Thomas, program manager at Lancashire County Council, provided an update on Lancashire’s devolution deal and how Preston can play a key role in the wider plans.

The proposal focuses on an improved adult education budget, having a strategic role in delivering services, supporting local businesses, control of sustainable transport and investment spending, all of which would drive regeneration and provide a boost to businesses and people across the region.

Describing the plans as a ‘collective opportunity’, Pete said: “Following approval, a new Combined County Authority (CCA) would be established that would create a new, democratically led body to speak for Lancashire, that has a focussed set of priorities.”

He reiterated the importance of local organisations like Preston Partnership and how it can feed into the CCA with input from its members and local authorities, stating that the voice of the business community needs to be heard, not just the politicians.

Andy revealed the timeline for a new Lancashire Economic Strategy, which would be created in the new six months. The strategy would need to be endorsed by a new Combined Authority Business Board, made up of 15 representatives from private, public and third sector organisations, as well as the sub-groups that sit underneath, which would include over 200 companies.

Andy added: “Once completed, our new economic strategy could lead to Lancashire having one of the most successful economies in the North of England. We want to shift the competing mindset in Lancashire. Competition should be with other UK regions, not the towns and cities within Lancashire.”

The session ended with a Q&A with the speakers, covering topics such as improvements to local transport, how our most vulnerable residents will be represented in the future and how the community play a part in Preston’s journey.

Preston dates for your diary

Our business development manager, Beckie Joyce, closed the event by discussing the benefits of joining the partnership, encouraging guests to become part of a growing movement to drive Preston forward.

She said that in order to have a meaningful impact and influence on future policies, the partnership needs to be made up of members from all corners of Preston’s business community.

Beckie explained that the partnership is still very much in its infant stage, essentially acting as a start-up. Beckie said: “We want to retain our own independence, while working closely with the City’s anchor institutions to help shape future development.”

She also shared details of the next Preston Quarter Club event, which Preston Partnership is sponsoring alongside BEK Geo-Environmental Consultants on Thursday 7 March, 2024 at Bar Pintxos, and the date for next event #InnovationInTheCity, taking place on Thursday 18 April, 2024 at Cotton Court Business Centre.

For further information on our events programme, visit our events page.

Fancy becoming a member?

If you would like to join a community of over 100 members that is helping Preston realise its potential, head over to our join page and choose your membership package.

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.