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IN VIEW


By Ged Henderson


IPW says its studies and market appraisals are used by its clients to establish project viability and make informed strategic and investment decisions.


City council chiefs have stressed that no decision has been made on the Guild Hall and a report outlining the consultancy’s findings is expected later this year.


The council has previously said it remains open to either refurbishing the building or replacing it with a new venue. Initial estimates have put the cost of either option at more than £70m.


City Council leader Matthew Brown said: “We recognise the need for, and how important it is, to have a large-scale entertainment and conferencing centre in the city centre and we are exploring all possibilities for the Guild Hall’s future.”


A VITAL STAGE FOR GUILD HALL


Its main stage once rocked to the music of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Elton John. Today Preston’s iconic Guild Hall stands silent in the city centre, its future as an entertainment venue uncertain.


17 Categories across all industries and career stages


Enter yourself or nominate a colleague, employee,


apprentice or team member Celebrate the people


shaping Lancashire’s future


Andy Burnham’s extraordinary rise from Mayor of Greater Manchester to Prime Minister represents a political earthquake.


nominate here! Enter and


Closing soon! Deadline:


Friday July 24 2026 #Sub36


Following his emphatic Makerfield by-election victory and Keir Starmer’s departure from Downing Street, Burnham appears set to take both the Labour leadership and the keys to Number 10.


For Lancashire, this moment presents both a huge opportunity and a stark warning.


No politician in modern Britain has done more to champion devolution than Burnham. His success in Greater Manchester has been built on a simple belief: decisions affecting local communities are best taken locally, not by civil servants in Whitehall.


As Prime Minister, he is likely to double down on that philosophy.


That means more powers over transport,


skills, housing, regeneration and economic development flowing away from Westminster and into regions that are prepared to embrace devolution. The crucial phrase there is “prepared to embrace it.”


For Lancashire, the message could not be clearer. Get on board with devolution, including accepting a directly elected mayor, or risk being left behind.


Some Lancashire politicians remain sceptical about the mayoral model, arguing that it concentrates too much power in one individual. However, the debate should now move beyond whether we like the model and focus instead on the reality of how England is being governed.


The evidence is overwhelming. Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire have all secured significant investment, influence and powers because they embraced devolution early.


Frankly Speaking


BURNHAM’S ARRIVAL IS A WAKE-UP CALL By Frank McKenna,


Downtown Lancashire in Business


Their mayors now sit around the table with ministers, negotiate directly with government and increasingly shape national policy.


The areas that have hesitated have found themselves watching from the sidelines.


Burnham is unlikely to have much patience for places that want the benefits of devolution without accepting the structures that make it work. He will expect counties to step up and take responsibility for their own economic destiny.


That is why Lancashire’s current local government reorganisation and devolution discussions are so important. This is not simply an argument about council boundaries or governance structures. It is about securing the investment, influence and economic clout that will determine the county’s future prosperity.


Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street should be a wake-up call.


The prize for Lancashire is substantial: greater powers, stronger investment and a louder voice in national affairs. But those rewards will not automatically arrive.


The county now faces a simple choice. Embrace devolution, elect a mayor and take its place among England’s leading growth regions – or continue debating while others move ahead.


The doors closed four years ago following legal proceedings against its former operator and, more recently, the discovery of Reinforced


Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the roof. That find resulted in its Charter Theatre and Grand Hall being closed for safety reasons.


Now a specialist consultancy has been drafted in to help determine the building’s future. London based IPW, has been commissioned to carry out a feasibility study into options for the venue moving forward.


However, he stressed that whether the decision was to refurbish the existing building or demolish it and build a new venue, central government investment was vital, adding: “The costs are way beyond anything the city council can afford on its own.”


Councillor Valerie Rawlinson, cabinet member for resources, has previously said the authority was committed to bringing forward a solution for the venue within the next 12 months.


She said the council was not tied to the Guild Hall’s existing footprint but acknowledged its city centre location, close to major transport links, remained a significant advantage.


Jen Cleary, North West director at Arts Council England, has welcomed the commissioning of the study. He said: “Arts and culture are fundamental to thriving towns and we welcome


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