Update from the Preston Partnership board | September 2025

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