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“We’ve got the university which has got incredible talent. We just don’t have the facilities to retain business in the city centre.”
He says many businesses are working out of several offices because they have no choice and adds: “Companies are just getting on the train and going to Manchester or Liverpool. Preston desperately needs good office space.”
Rizwan believes more office provision can play its part in preventing a “doughnut affect” with the city centre hollowed out as businesses head to out-of-town, where parking and access may be easier.
He also says there are buildings in Preston that could be repurposed, pointing to his company’s transformation of the derelict Old Docks House into a thriving business centre.
There are other projects emerging. In February real estate investor and developer Branco Capital announced it had appointed OneCoWork to operate a planned premium coworking centre in Winckley Square.
It will be the first UK location for OneCoWork, which operates three centres in Barcelona with high profile clients including Fortune 500 companies.
The managed and flexible office hub will provide more than 500 desks for individuals, teams and businesses.
Ben Nachoom, chief executive of OneCoWork, says: “Preston provides us with an opportunity to make a significant impact on the local entrepreneurial and business community.”
Deborah Smith, owner of Smith and Love Planning, would like to see less development work around defined residential, office and leisure areas and a more mixed approach. She describes it as “more layering of different uses” which could make access to investment easier.
Kimberley Barrett-St Vall is a partner at AfterAthena, part of the Napthen’s law group. It is currently looking to move from its current Winckley Square offices and she says it is looking to stay in the city centre.
She compares Preston’s offer to the firm’s Liverpool operation and says: “You go there for the day with all the shared spaces, retail on the bottom, breakout rooms; we’re competing with that. So, when our staff come back after a visit to Liverpool, they’re looking around and thinking, this isn’t ideal.”
Kimberley, who also points to Preston’s lack of seminar and conferencing facilities, says that when it comes to office space: “Available properties have to be there to suit the needs that are in demand.”
Rizwan Seth Managing director, Wrkspace Business Centres
About us
Wrkspace provides flexible office space, meeting rooms, virtual offices and co-working spaces to SMEs, operating four centres in Preston and two in Bolton. We offer flexible leases with one monthly licence fee which gives businesses stability and flexibility.
Our achievements
We are developing and increasing our portfolio at pace as demand for flexible working solutions grows. We envisage having up to 10 business centres in and around the Preston area. We just bought and renovated the Historic Dock House on Watery Lane, recently celebrated the full occupancy of our latest centre in Fulwood within 18 months, and have been nominated to manage Amounderness House – 20,000 sq ft of Grade A serviced offices opening in summer 2025.
Why we like doing business in Preston
As a Proud Prestonian, I have lived and worked in Preston all my life. Preston has a lot of potential, a world class university and excellent Rail/road connectivity with a national park on our doorstep. There is a lot of inward investment going into the City including the Animate project along with The Harris Library and many other residential schemes. The future is very bright for Preston and its definitely moving in the right direction, after years of stalling projects, 2025 will be the start of many projects being delivered in the City Centre.
wrkspace.co.uk About us
Smith & Love obtains planning permission for developers and landowners, alongside project managing and leading external teams. We also provide expert advice on whether land and buildings have development potential, prepare representations to promote the development of land via Local Plans, provide estate advice and prepare appeals.
Our achievements
The Town’s Fund initiative has created an opportunity for local businesses like ours to get involved in some exciting projects. We’ve worked on Pioneer Place in Burnley, a new £23m leisure scheme in the town centre, and in Preston we are currently working on Amounderness House, Waverley Park, Moor Park and the replacement of the tram bridge in Avenham Park. It’s important in our work as planners to create places that make a difference to people’s lives.
Why we like doing business in Preston
The Preston business community is supportive and collaborative and we actively seek out local firms to work with as part of our external teams. After years of planning and investment, 2025 is going to be a year of transformation for the city with a number of significant projects coming to fruition. It’s great to be contributing to the area’s regeneration – the momentum of the city is palpable.
smithlove.co.uk
Deborah Smith Director, Smith & Love Planning Consultants
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