Chris says: “If you rewind back five years, if you asked me whether we would see new builds, high rise blocks delivering viable, fully occupied residential units in the city, I would have said that sounds like a bit of a pipe dream. But we’re there.
“Can we deliver the office space? We absolutely can and I think over the next three to four years we’ll see that.”
City businessman Rob Binns, a board member of the Preston Partnership, believes the arrival of National Cyber Force in Samlesbury is a massive opportunity for the Station Quarter as its new headquarters acts as a magnet for other organisations and businesses.
He adds: “The key is having grade A provision
city and opportunities to reinvent them. John says: “There’s a lot that we could do with those buildings, rather than just turning them to residential, which we’ve seen in the past. It is about having the right kind of workspaces.”
Those workspaces are important when it comes to spin-off businesses from the university as they move from start-up status and begin their growth journeys.
Russ Millhouse, head of external and public affairs at UCLan, says: “We have a fantastic hit rate. What we need is the ‘grow on’ space to help them take the next step.”
Away from the station project there are encouraging signs when it comes to the provision of better city centre office space.
Can we deliver the office space? We absolutely can and over the next three to four years we will see that
that will attract everything, from civil servants to growing companies.
“We need accommodation which will attract businesses and organisations of all sizes so that our graduates and the people who are living with the city can have their first and last job in the city centre.”
John Bridge, of Studio John Bridge Architects, agrees a station gateway would give visitors to the city a sense of destination.
He also points to existing office spaces in the
The £7.4m transformation of Amounderness House – Preston’s Grade II-listed former magistrates’ court – is underway. The historic building in the Harris Quarter, which has stood empty for more than 20 years, is being turned into a modern, flexible workspace hub that will be operated by W_rkspace.
Rizwan Seth, managing director of W_rkspace, says: “Amounderness House will definitely be an addition, but there’s a lot more scope for grade A office space.
Continued on Page 58
PRESENT: Richard Slater
Lancashire Business View (Chair)
Chris Blackburn Preston City Council
Rizwan Seth WRKSPACE
Kimberley
Barrett-St.Vall AfterAthena
John Bridge John Bridge Architects Rob Binns Cotton Court
Russ Millhouse UCLan
Deborah Smith Smith and Love Planning LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
57
PRESTONIN VIEW
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