Preston Tithebarn redevelopment

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The Preston Tithebarn regeneration project is a £700 million city centre regeneration initiative, by Preston Tithebarn Partnership, a 50/50 joint venture between Grosvenor and Lend Lease Corporation in partnership with Preston City Council. It is dependent upon a number of requirements (such as the re-location of the Bus Station). Construction is due to start in summer 2010, with completion forecast for 2014.

On October 11, 2005, Preston City Council and developer Preston Tithebarn Partnership signed an agreement to go ahead with the Tithebarn regeneration project, which calls for the demolition of the current bus station, a prominant example of 1960s brutalist architecture.

In January 2007, the department store John Lewis confirmed it will anchor the development with a 230,000 sq ft department store. The project also includes a second department store, new cinemas, around 100 new shops, offices, homes, extensive public spaces, a new hotel, refurbished Guild Hall and revitalised markets. [1]

In 2000, opposition to the demolition of the Bus Station led to an application to English Heritage for listed building status. Preston Borough Council (as it then was) among others opposed the application and it was unsuccessful.

Putting forward the case for a smaller terminus, a report, commissioned by the council and Grosvenor in 2000, stated that "buses arriving and leaving the bus station have very low bus occupancy rates indicating that passengers alight and board elsewhere in the town centre. The bus station car park similarly suffers from the poor pedestrian linkages." [2] Listing was subsequently rejected. [3]

The public consultation for Preston Tithebarn regeneration project began in May 2008 running until June 11 2008, and thereafter by appointment. During public consultation plans and a 3D model can be viewed at the Tithebarn Information Centre at 50-52 Lancaster Road, Preston (next to the Guild Hall) and visitors are engouraged to have their say about the plans. [4]. Also in 2008, John Lewis released designs for the flagship store on their website.

See also:

  1. ^ Lancashire Evening Post (January 25, 2007). Store puts city in retail premiership. Lancashire Evening Post.
  2. ^ Preston Town Centre Analysis Précis document (pdf). Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
  3. ^ Department of Culture, Media and Sport: Minister's Decision on Central Bus Station and Car Park, Preston (html). The Save Preston Bus Station Campaign. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
  4. ^ Preston City Council (May 27, 2008). Preston Tithebarn Regeneration Plans on Show. Preston City Council.