Consumers are increasingly seeking a wider range of choice as the economy continues to improve, paving the way for upgrades to existing developments and regeneration projects for sites which have lain derelict for some time. In Preston, this will see the old Cottam Brickworks site transformed into a mixed use retail, leisure and healthcare hub.
Planning officers from Preston City Council will vote in April whether to allow developers to go forward with the District Centre project, which so far has garnered a high level of support from local residents during the public consultation. The centre will bridge the gap between existing residential sites and a proposed new community under both the council’s Local Plan and the North West Preston Masterplan.
Costing around £80 million to complete, the centre will bring a new large supermarket unit, a number of smaller retail outlets, a restaurant and a pub to the site previously used for industrial manufacturing. There will also be a petrol filling station, a childcare facility and a healthcare hub to potentially accommodate a GP surgery and pharmacy on site.
The plans have now been submitted to the council by planning consultancy De Pol Associates, acting on behalf of developer and site owner Cottam Hall Properties. Managing director Marco De Pol is hopeful that planning approval will be swiftly granted in order to allow the ambitious project to go ahead as soon as possible.
He says; “We have been advising Cottam Hall Properties for a number of years on planning matters relating to the redevelopment of the brickworks site.
“Following significant investment and commitment to the site, Cottam Hall Properties has asked us to submit the plans for the new District Centre and they are now in front of the city’s planners.
“The developers have had a great deal of support for the scheme from the community and it is hoped the plans will be welcomed by Preston City Council.”
The site, which measures 13.85 hectares, already has planning permission in place for the proposed supermarket unit along with a number of offices and up to 206 homes. However, Cottam Hall Properties believes that the new plans will not only provide a greater variety of amenities for the local community but will also create hundreds more jobs in the surrounding area.
Director of Cottam Hall Properties, Ian Rankin, believes that the new plans will provide incentive for potential tenants to express an interest, especially as this development will be the first of its kind in the close vicinity.
He continues; “Shops and amenities, such as the ones we are proposing, are sorely missing from this part of Preston.
“Our vision is that this will be a very complete development, well served by public transport. Sustainability has been a key priority in our thinking.”
