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PRESTON
Shirah Bamber
Matthew Guest
Ashlea Thornton
Rob Binns Continued from Page 27 in association with
Preston City Council is looking to build on all this momentum to go even further with a regeneration plan being drafted that will take the city up to 2035. It is part of wider vision that sees opportunities for a city region at the heart of central Lancashire’s economy.
The plan aims to set out the priorities of Preston’s Regeneration Board – a collaboration between the city and county councils, the University of Lancashire and the private business sector represented by The Preston Partnership group.
Those priorities include strengthening the city’s cultural, leisure and retail provision and maximising the opportunities presented by the arrival of National Cyber Force in the county.
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The wish-list includes creating a new commercial district around the railway station, while continuing to develop the city living strategy which is already delivering results.
Andrew Dewhurst is a director at Maple Grove Developments, the city council’s development partner on the Animate project. It is also working with the local authority on the refurbishment of Amounderness House and on delivering public realm improvements in the Harris Quarter.
He says: “We are seeing positive change in Preston. The city council’s desire is for Animate to become something of a catalyst and we are already seeing its impact. I feel that things are turning in the city’s favour.”
Andrew believes there is a need for patience. He adds: “There are many parts to the city centre jigsaw and they are all co-dependent. There have been gains on visitor attractions, the night-time economy and the cultural offer.”
Peter Jackson’s family jewellery business has been trading in the city since the early 1980s and he sits on the committee of Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID).
He welcomes the arrival of Animate and the work around the Harris Quarter but believes more needs to be done to support the city’s retail sector, which in common with other towns and cities across the country, is feeling the pressure.
Peter says: “Town and city centres have huge issues. As wonderful as Animate looks, other parts of Preston are looking tired.
Judith Dugdale
“Retail is the heart of the city and we have to keep that heart beating. Thousands of people work in the city every day and the retail offer is really important. More attention needs to be paid to improving and developing that offer.
“There are a lot of empty units in the city centre and it is difficult sometimes to persuade landlords to make the right decisions.”
He adds: “Preston is at the heart of Lancashire and every train going from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London and back stops here. I’m not aware that anyone has ever tried to persuade people to get off and spend a couple of hours in the city, but it’s a great opportunity.
“We have a lot to offer. Preston historically is a fantastic city, it has lots of beautiful buildings, it has a big population. It is easy to access but it needs more imagination.
“We need to shout louder about what we have
Andrew Dewhurst
to offer and we need to persuade large private investors to invest.”
Judith Dugdale, partner at PM+M accountants, agrees. She says: “Preston has not really shouted about what it has done. I didn’t know Animate had opened and I live in the Ribble Valley. That news hasn’t reached 15 miles away.”
Shirah Bamber is director of city-based consultancy Alma and has been appointed innovation ambassador by the council. She says: “There is so much investment going on, the city is unrecognisable to what it was five or ten years ago.
“When you are trying to bring change on such a large scale, it takes a bit of time.”
She points to its growing food offer and says: “I’m a foodie and used to have to travel to get the food I wanted. Now I can get Turkish, Japanese, Thai or Korean food in the city centre, all just a walk away from each other. It is thriving.
PRESENT:
Richard Slater, Lancashire Business View (chair) Heather McNulty, Argento Lounge Rob Binns, Cotton Court Business Centres Ashlea Thornton, Farleys solicitors Andrew Dewhurst, Maple Grove Developments Judith Dugdale, PM+M accountants
Peter Jackson, Preston BID Shirah Bamber, Preston City Council Innovation Ambassador Matthew Guest, University of Lancashire
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