While on-site activity paused over the winter break, the iconic Tram Bridge project has continued to move forward at pace behind the scenes.

Off-site construction of the new bridge is well underway, and key design decisions have now been made, including the final colour palette for the bridge and its decking.

The steelwork will feature a bold Black Grey, chosen for its sleek, contemporary look and ability to complement the natural surroundings. This will be paired with a Light Buff Brown Polydeck finish for the bridge decking, offering both durability and a warm, inviting appearance underfoot.

These carefully selected colours reflect the bridge’s modern engineering while nodding to the heritage and landscape of Avenham Park, ensuring the new Tram Bridge will be as visually striking as it is functional.

The replacement of the Bridge, announced in Spring 2024, is being delivered by Preston City Council using part of its £20 million grant awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with an additional £1 million from Lancashire County Council.

The bridge project is being delivered by contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering and since construction resumed in spring, visible changes can already be seen along the River Ribble, including the completion of the land-based piers, modification of the abutments, and preparation for the second in-river pier. Meanwhile, off-site fabrication of the bridge is progressing in preparation for its scheduled installation and lift in Autumn 2025.

Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council said:

“I’m delighted at the progress of this historic project. The newly released imagery and designs are really bringing it to life and, I hope, will generate excitement across the city.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment and dedication to delivering a bridge that can be used and enjoyed for generations to come.

“I encourage everyone to visit the Pavilion Café, take a look at the exhibition, and see the progress for themselves.”

County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Lancashire County Council, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the Preston Tram Bridge project making such strong progress. This isn’t just about rebuilding a bridge – it’s about reconnecting communities, opening up greener travel, and giving people a healthier, more active way to move between South Ribble and Preston.

“I’d like to thank residents for their patience while work continues, your support is helping deliver a lasting improvement for the whole area.”

Antony Mulligan, Contracts Manager at Eric Wright Civil Engineering commented:

“We are delighted to be moving forward with the replacement of the historic Tram Bridge for our clients, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council.

“The project continues to move at pace with us already completing the first in river pier and the two land abutments. We are currently constructing the second, and final, in river pier which will see us complete the substructure. The steel superstructure of the bridge is currently being fabricated off site ready to be installed later this year.”

Preston’s iconic cultural landmark is set to welcome up to half a million visitors each year following a £19 million major restoration.

Made possible with funding from Preston City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government’s Towns Fund, Lancashire County Council and many other generous partners.

The Harris will officially reopen its doors to the public on Sunday, 28 September 2025 following a once-in-a-generation restoration as part of the Harris Your Place project. The transformation reimagines The Harris as a dynamic and inclusive cultural hub for the 21st century, blending art, history, community, and a refreshed library service to deliver an exciting new visitor experience.

Located in the heart of Preston, The Harris will relaunch with an impressive exhibition programme, learning spaces, family-friendly facilities, a new café and shop, and new heritage tours that celebrate its architectural and civic legacy. The reopening will mark a new chapter for one of the UK’s leading regional museums, libraries and galleries.

Councillor Anna Hindle, cabinet member for culture and arts at Preston City Council, said: “The reopening of The Harris marks a proud and exciting moment for the city of Preston.

“This incredible transformation will not only safeguard our heritage but also create a vibrant, inclusive space that inspires creativity, learning and connection for generations to come. We’re immensely grateful to all our funding partners and can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors alike back through the doors of this much-loved building.

“The Harris Your Place project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of key partners. We gratefully acknowledge Preston City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government’s Towns Fund, Lancashire County Council and Arts Council England. Their vital contributions have helped preserve The Harris for future generations while strengthening access, learning and community engagement.”

John Chesworth, chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Board, added: “This much-anticipated and eagerly awaited new era for The Harris represents a major element of the ongoing regeneration and rejuvenation of Preston, alongside other landmark schemes such as the transformation of Amounderness House into managed workspace and the £45m flagship Animate entertainment and leisure destination, delivering economic growth and opportunities for all in a truly revitalised city centre.”

Closed since 2021, essential works have included the safe removal of asbestos from the roof, comprehensive repairs to preserve the building’s historic structure, and vital improvements to heating, lighting, and accessibility throughout the building. When it reopens, visitors can expect a fully reimagined experience, with new galleries, and community facilities.

Following the refurbishment of The Harris, annual visitors are expected to increase by approximately 100,000 on top of the existing 350,000 (in 2021).

Additionally, The Harris is unveiling a fresh new look including a redesigned logo, brand identity, and new website. The modernised branding aligns with the aims of the Harris Your Place project: inspired by community input and honouring the building’s heritage while looking confidently to the future.

More details about the reopening events, exhibitions and public programming will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit The Harris website: www.theharris.org.uk.

Phase one of the Illuminate and Integrate scheme, a key project in the transformation of the Harris Quarter has been completed, with work on Phase two of the project due to start late autumn.

The project has been designed to improve pedestrian and cycle space at a section of Lancaster Road adjacent to the Market Hall and Old Vicarage Road.

The work includes a new pedestrian and cycle-friendly space with high-quality paving, trees, and other features, such as public seating and an expanded, flexible-use space around the market to create opportunities for alfresco dining.

A key feature of the works on Old Vicarage is the installation of ‘Gobo’ lighting which projects moving images onto the pavements, lighting the way to Preston Market but also ‘animating’ the journey from the bus station to Animate, the new £45m+ entertainment and leisure complex due to open to the public in February 2025.

In October, planning permission was granted for the Illuminate element of the scheme with improved lighting consisting of new and replacement columns, wall, canopy lights, and a mixture of heritage and modern lighting.

Illuminate has also been designed to minimise energy usage, improve the quality of street lighting and make streets feel safer. The lighting improvements extend to additional streets Birley, Earl, Cheapside, and Market Street.

Phase two of the works will focus on Lancaster Road. The public realm works will maintain the existing service and taxi provision, while Lancaster Road between Old Vicarage and Earl Street will be permanently closed to vehicles.

This scheme is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments and Eric Wright Civil Engineering on behalf of Preston City Council, under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme with funding from Towns Fund, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council.

Preston City Council Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building, Councillor Valerie Wise, said: “The proposed works are focused on improving the quality of the public spaces and creating safer and better paths between existing spaces and transport hubs such as the bus station. The aim is to encourage footfall and visitors to stay longer into the evening, supporting the Harris Quarter ‘as a go-to cultural destination in the city.’

John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board, added: “While it may only be a small part of the overall jigsaw, lighting fundamentally impacts place-making. Quite literally, Illuminate will showcase Preston’s fine architecture, promoting the areas of the Harris Quarter while creating an attractive but dynamic lighting scene and encouraging footfall to this area of Preston.”

Nick Hague, project director at Maple Grove Developments, continued: “The scheme has been designed to sympathetically create a contemporary feel to the area without dismissing the heritage of the Harris Quarter. It’ll promote safety and assurance while helping to create a positive ambience.”

Lancashire County Council Cabinet member for economic development and growth, Brian Moore, said “We’re investing £800k in the city centre and encouraging sustainable transport by improving the links between the bus station and new transformational developments taking place in the Harris Quarter, which gives more options for people to walk and cycle. Making Preston a more attractive place to live and visit helps create new jobs, grow the night-time economy, and create a more vibrant city centre.

“Alongside the recent improvement work on Ringway and Friargate delivered by the county council, we’re working closely in partnership to improve the wider city centre and provide people with more options for getting around.”

Towns Fund – Town Deals

The Towns Fund is working directly with places and putting power in the hands of local businesses and communities to unleash the economic potential of towns and high streets across England. The government wants to see vibrant towns that are more attractive places to live, work and visit; and to increase opportunity across the country so that everyone (wherever they live) can contribute to and benefit from economic growth. Preston 35 is the city’s renewed city investment plan, 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, see community wealth building.

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.

The Lancashire Economic Growth and Development Investment Fund (LEGDIF) is a strategic initiative led by Lancashire County Council aimed at fostering economic growth and development within Lancashire. By merging the remaining funds from the Lancashire Economic Recovery & Growth Fund (LERG) and the Lancashire Levelling Up Investment Fund (LLUIF), LEGDIF builds on this success and seeks to support key sectors, including emerging opportunities like cybersecurity.

The City Deal agreement aims to continue to create new private sector jobs and encourage more new homes to be built across the area. It is an agreement between Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, along with central government and Homes England.

For more details visit Invest – illuminate and integrate.

A Grade II listed former magistrates court is set to become a high-quality flexible workspace in Preston city centre.

Updated plans for the c.£9m transformation of Preston’s historic Amounderness House into modern flexible workspace have been approved.

The amended proposals follow changes to the original design of planned new build elements and facades in the rear courtyard of the Grade II listed property.

With planning consent already granted, the updated plans by FWP Architects and submitted by S&L Planning Consultants on behalf of Preston City Council proposed changes to the rear elevation while still creating 26 offices and studios plus meeting and event space to be operated by Preston-based bespoke office space provider Wrkspace.

The rear elevation changes were designed to be sympathetic with the existing building, with complementary materials and sustainability factors considered while achieving cost efficiencies.

The revised plans incorporate the existing courtyard, which is being improved for public use. The building’s physical and historical architecture will continue to be sensitively preserved as part of the overall refurbishment.

Maple Grove Developments, the development arm of Preston-based Eric Wright Group, is working with Preston City Council to deliver the transformation of Amounderness House, built in 1857 as a police station before becoming a magistrates court.

As no objections to the amended proposals were received, the Council granted consent and work will start on site this summer.

John Chesworth, Preston Partnership chair, said: “The much-anticipated rejuvenation of Amounderness House will transform an outstanding and historic property, further boosting economic activity in central Preston by providing state-of-the-art flexible workspace for ambitious businesses.”

Rizwan Seth, Preston Partnership board member and managing director of Wrkspace, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of the newly approved Amounderness House development in the heart of Preston city centre.

“Working alongside Maple Grove Developments and Preston City Council on this landmark project reflects our shared commitment to revitalising city centre spaces.

“The addition of Amounderness House to our successful network of Wrkspace business centres across Lancashire represents an exciting opportunity to support Preston’s growing business community with flexible, high-quality workspace.”

Chris Hayward, Preston City Council’s director of development and housing, added: “Breathing new life into Amounderness House will play a key role in our ongoing drive to support the growth of innovative local businesses by providing them with an inspiring and dynamic city centre hub.”

Nik Puttnam, senior development manager at Maple Grove Developments (MGD), explained: “MGD are delighted to be involved in the Amounderness House project. The restoration and refurbishment of this key part of Preston’s heritage into high quality managed workspace, will complement the wider regeneration of the Harris Quarter. Further, the delivery of this new managed workspace will support the economic growth of the city centre and opportunities for new local businesses.”

Amounderness House is one of six major projects under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, for which the City was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s Towns Fund 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 recently opened £45m+ Animate cinema and leisure destination.

Preston-based S&L Planning Consultants submitted the updated application on behalf of Preston City Council, with the wider project team on Amounderness House being Cowburn-Watson Box, SCP Transport, Eden Heritage, E3P, TRP Consulting, and Graham Schofield Associates.

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library has announced successful awards totalling £25,000 from The Pilgrim Trust, The Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris to support conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze.

This significant funding will play a crucial role in displaying the frieze for future visitors to The Harris following the current Harris Your Place project; aimed at reimagining The Harris for future generations.

The plaster frieze depicts Alexander the Great, leading his army into the city of Babylon in 331 BC after defeating the Persian king.

The original version of the frieze was made in 1812 by Danish neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, with several copies created in his lifetime. The Harris’ version was brought to England in 1862 and was gifted to the Harris by the V&A in 1987. It has become a visitor favourite over the years and fits perfectly with the neo-classical design scheme of the building.

The sheer scale and intricate details of this masterpiece present a substantial challenge for the conservator and specialist installation team involved in its preservation.

The conservation project beginning in March 2025, will involve meticulous work to ensure the frieze is preserved for future visitors to enjoy.

The funding will enable The Harris to address the complex needs of this significant piece, ensuring its structural stability and visual integrity.

Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We are delighted to receive this generous grant from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris. The Alexander Frieze is an important part of our collection, and this funding allows us to undertake vital conservation work to ensure it can be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.

“The Harris Your Place project is all about protecting our historic collections while making them more accessible, and this support is a significant step towards that goal.”

Pilgrim Trust Director Sue Bowers added: “We are delighted to support the conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze with a £20,000 grant. It is a visitor favourite but now requires work form a specialist conservator to help stabilise and safeguard it for future generations to enjoy.”

Prof. Peter Lloyd ARE, Chair of Trustees for the Friends of The Harris said: “The Friends of the Harris are proud to support the conservation of the Alexander Frieze, ensuring that people in Preston and beyond can continue to enjoy and be inspired by this remarkable piece of our shared heritage.”

Visit The Harris website – Alexander Frieze conservation project and the Harris Your Place project for more information.

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

Two Preston city parks have been given the green light for a multi-million pound revamp by the city’s Planning Committee this week.

The plans, submitted by Preston-based S&L Planning Consultants, have been approved and the work will be carried out by Eric Wright Civil Engineering, which is due to start in the summer.

Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member at Preston City Council for Planning Regulation and Chair of the Planning Committee said: “We are delighted that these plans have been passed and we can get started on the much needed improvements to our city’s treasured green spaces.

“Given the special listed status that Moor Park enjoys, due respect has been given to the conservation areas and preserving and enhancing the historic park. Any new additions will make a positive contribution to the local character and distinctiveness of our parks.

Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety said: “We are looking forward to the improvements that will enhance our greenspaces that will also help to increase outdoor activity and greater leisure time, improving the health and wellbeing of our communities by delivering new, higher quality and more accessible sports and play facilities, better footpaths and landscaping to enjoy, in a safer environment.”

Gavin Hulme, Operations Director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering commented: “It’s great news that the planning applications have been passed for Waverley and Moor Parks. We have been working with Preston City Council, relevant stakeholders and our design teams over the last 12 months to ensure the works will bring lasting improvements to these two important parks. We are looking forward to starting works on site later this year and bringing benefits to the local communities.”

Deborah Smith, Co-Founder of Smith & Love Planning Consultants said: “Preston is proud of its parks and we’re thrilled to have played a part in their improvement, providing important spaces for local residents and visitors to enjoy. The rejuvenated parks will also add to the ongoing regeneration of the city.”

Moor Park, which is the city’s oldest park and Grade II* listed, will undergo a £4m programme of improvements which include:

• Extension and de-silting of Serpentine Lake and a new bridge across the lake
• Improvements to the Loggia and surrounding area (the Loggia is an outdoor corridor with a fully covered roof and outer wall that is open to the elements)
• Playground improvements
• Additional tree and shrub planting
• Improvements to the changing pavilion
• Groundworks to create wildflower meadows
• Improvements to the south-east entrance and car park

Waverley Park, nearly £3.5m of improvements were approved at the previous February Planning Committee and include:
• New Play area
• Refurbishment of 3 football pitches
• 1 x pump track
• skate park improvements
• Remodelling of car park with 27 x new car park spaces, creating 34 spaces in total
• Widening footpaths and new landscaping
• Demolition and rebuild of the football pavilion which already has planning permission

Both proposals will be funded by UK Government and are part of a £20m Levelling Up bid made to the previous government’s administration.

Introducing Innovate + Influence Preston – a new magazine focused on telling the stories of interesting things people, organisations and what businesses are doing in tech, digital, and cyber in and around Preston.

Produced for Invest Preston, this magazine is part of the work being undertaken by Shirah Bamber, the Innovation Ambassador appointed by Preston City Council.

The pilot issue, published this week, contains Q&As with local entrepreneurs and stories from local businesses and educational institutes, including Moor Park High School & Sixth Form, Cardinal Newman Sixth Form and the University of Central Lancashire. Alongside these, there is insight and reflection on what else is going on in the area.

The magazine’s home is on the Invest Preston website, but has been shared with partners to reach a much wider audience. It will also be used on social media to promote the city and the sector.

Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council said: “We are thrilled to be able to unveil this magazine, which has been a work in progress for the last few months.

“We have the fortunate problem of having too many stories to choose from to include in a single issue, and look forward to continuing to work with local businesses, organisations, and partners to raise the profile of innovation taking place across Preston.”

Innovation Ambassador, Shirah Bamber, said: “Preston is a powerhouse of innovation – it’s in our blood, and makes up a large part of our heritage.

It’s been really exciting to speak to the various individuals, businesses, and teams who are doing really interesting things across tech, digital, and cyber throughout the city. Innovation comes out in so many different shapes and sizes, and is not just for “pure tech” type companies – it has been great to see how even the most traditional businesses are evolving.”

Any individuals or businesses who are interested in sharing their stories about interesting things they are doing in tech, digital or cyber in Preston should email innovation@preston.gov.uk.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

Nick Park CBE, four-time Academy Award-winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, has officially opened the city’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination.

The Honorary Freeman of Preston and multi award-winning filmmaker, unveiled a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit animated films, to mark the opening, close by to the existing famous Wallace & Gromit bench at Preston Markets.

Joining Nick at the unveiling were the Mayor of Preston Councillor Philip Crowe, Chris Butler and Chris Jones, owners and directors of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, which created the statue, and Merlin Crossingham, Bafta@ award-winning creative co-director of Wallace and Gromit at Aardman Animations.

Nick and Merlin are executive directors and creative directors, respectively, at Bristol-based independent studio Aardman, makers of the Wallace & Gromit films and other beloved brands, including Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, and Morph.

Nick Park CBE said: “As a proud Prestonian, I couldn’t be more ‘egg-cited’ to see our infamous Feathers McGraw joining Wallace and Gromit in my hometown.”I’m not sure how happy Wallace and Gromit will be, though, to have their arch nemesis clutching the limelight.”

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council said: “To have Nick Park officially opening our flagship regeneration scheme, Animate, is a genuine honour and landmark moment for the Council and the city. In addition, the new Feathers McGraw statue is a fantastic complement to the Wallace and Gromit bench, which has drawn so many visitors to Preston – its popularity has blown us away.

Today heralds a new era for Preston, providing an unrivalled multi-tenanted entertainment and leisure complex for residents and visitors from the wider regionin the ownership of our city.”

Chris Jones, Director at Castle Fine Arts Foundry added: “It was such an honour for us all at the Foundry to be given the opportunity to depict the deliciously malign Feathers McGraw in bronze, having enjoyed creating Wallace & Gromit a couple of years ago.”We had felt Feathers ‘wee beady eyes’ upon us in the workshop for a good few months since we completed him, so it was both a relief and a joy to put him where he truly belongs, alongside his arch nemeses in Preston.”

The opening of the feather mcgraw statue by the Mayor and Nick Park.

Animate features The Arc Cinema with eight screens, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with gaming zone, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, alongside leading family restaurant brands Ask Italian, Cosmo, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge and a variety of street food outlets and a cocktail bar in Mad Giant Food Hall, run by Northern Lights Group.

The scheme was delivered by Maple Grove Developments (MGD), part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers.

Built on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is fully owned by Preston City Council and is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme including £20.9m of funding by UK Government to support several regeneration projects.

The leisure scheme supports the Council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building – a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston – via measures including using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when fully open and 105 apprenticeship weeks worked throughout the construction period to date.

Opening dates at Animate

• Argento Lounge – Open
• Taco Bell – Open
• The Arc Cinema – Open
• Hollywood Bowl – opening March
• Ask Italian – opening early April
• Mad Giant Food Hall – coming soon
• Cosmo – coming soon

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

Preston’s nine Grade two-listed red telephone boxes are set for an historic face-lift as the project to restore them dials up.

On Thursday 12 December, telephone box restoration specialists L Carr Contractors have removed the iconic kiosks for sandblasting and restoration to their original condition.

Once the restoration is complete, the boxes will be returned to their location outside the former post office on Market Street for the spring of 2025.

After the kiosks are removed, work will take place beneath the pavement to install new digital infrastructure that will home the new enhanced telephone boxes.

Originally designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V’s Coronation in 1935, the cast iron kiosks with timber doors form the longest line of historic red telephone boxes in the UK.

Preston City Council acquired the telephone boxes in 2021 and obtained Listed Building Consent (LBC) for their restoration.

Potential future uses of the kiosks include creative installations in partnership with artists to add to the vibrancy of the Harris Quarter in Preston.

The restoration project forms a key part of the wider Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, awarded £20.9m from the government’s then-national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021.

Liam Carr, director of East Yorkshire-based L Carr Contractors, said: “The award of this prestigious contract allows us to revitalise these historic telephone boxes and enhance community pride and local tourism, ensuring that the charm and nostalgia associated with such iconic traditional red boxes endure in an increasingly digital age.”

Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building on Preston City Council, said: “Preston celebrates being the home of the UK’s longest line of iconic red telephone boxes, a landmark in the centre of our city that we’ll bring back to life for current and future generations to enjoy.

“Once the restoration is complete and the kiosks are returned to their home on Market Street, we will work with artists to commission light, audio visual or graphic work to bring them alive, adding to the vibrancy of the Harris Quarter.”

Preston Partnership chairman and Chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Strategic Board, John Chesworth, added: “The long-awaited and much-anticipated restoration of these historic telephone boxes would be an outstanding addition to the Harris Quarter. They represent an invaluable and unique city asset, and bringing them back into use will provide a popular focal point for many people.”

As the designer of the kiosks, Sir Giles has a strong historical connection with Preston. He also designed the War Memorial Cenotaph in Market Place, and his father, George Gilbert Scott, designed the Town Hall.

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. Schemes include the £45m Animate cinema and leisure complex and the refurbishment of the Grade I-listed Harris Museum, art gallery, and library.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

On Tuesday, 5 November, Preston City Council hosted a Real Living Wage celebration, to showcase becoming the first Real Living Wage city in Lancashire and gave a platform to other Real Living Wage employers to share their experiences, whilst shining a light on the benefit of becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer.

The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 15,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.

In 2012, Preston City Council was the first local authority, in the North of England to become a Real Living Wage accredited employer and compliments the foundations of Community Wealth Building.

The event was opened by Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building, in which she talked about the importance of being a Real Living Wage employer and encouraged those considering becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer to move forward in the process.

Councillor Valerie Wise said: “It’s a wonderful event and a great platform to promote not only the fact that Preston City Council is an accredited Living Wage employer, but also Preston’s Living Wage City status. We would love for other employers and councils to follow suit. As proven by conversations with both employers and employees, staff morale and retention improve significantly in businesses paying the real living wage.”

The Q&A panel, saw employers such as Michael Manley from GLL, Kath O’Flaherty from Preston City Council and Nick Burnham, Principal at Cardinal Newman College, share their first-hand experiences of being accredited Real Living Wage employers and encouraged others to follow suit.

Kath O’Flaherty, Head of Workforce at Preston City Council said: “The Living Wage agenda is intended to promote the economic and social well-being of people living and working in Preston. The Council has a long history of action on low pay and has been paying the Real living Wage as the minimum rate for all its workers since 2009. Although it impacts only a small number of workers in roles at the lowest end of the Council’s pay spine, it does help to attract workers and reduce turnover in those roles. In particular, we’ve had an excellent response in recruiting younger workers into apprenticeship roles.”

When talking about Preston as a Real Living Wage place, Phoebe Devenish, Project Manager, Living Wage Places said: “The impact of a council or major employer accrediting to the real Living Wage can be significant. Accredited Living Wage employers need to ensure both their direct and contracted staff are paid the real Living Wage, leading to pay rises for many workers. Some councils go further, using their local networks and influence to extend broader uptake of the real Living Wage.

In Preston, Preston Council has encouraged other local employers to accredit as Living Wage employers; a quarter of low-paid workers in the city and its surrounds have now received a pay increase due to their place of work becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.”

For more information on Preston being a Real Living Wage city and employer, visit Preston City Councils Living Wage Policy.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.