Amounderness House revamp, Preston holiday park tipped for approval
The grade two-listed building in the city’s Market Quarter is set to be converted into a coworking office complex, while developer GHV wants to transform Goosnargh Golf Club into a luxury resort.
Preston City Council is recommended to approve its own plans to bring Amounderness House back into use, along with GHV’s Garstang holiday park, at its planning committee meeting next Thursday.
Amounderness House
Application number: 06/2023/0888
The city council is hoping to secure the future of the former courthouse on the corner of Lancaster Road and Earl Street with its plans for the property, which has lain vacant for 20 years.
Designed by FWP Architects, the scheme would bring Amounderness House back into use with hopes to deliver 6,400 sq ft of office space.
The property was was originally constructed in 1857 as a police station with holding cells, before being extended into a magistrates’ court in 1901.
Plans for Amounderness House’s transformation include the creation of an accessible main entrance to the building, which would lead visitors to a 1,700 sq ft central hub. The ground-floor hub would feature breakout, hot desk, and social space, along with seven office units ranging from 100 sq ft to 900 sq ft.
There would also be four commercial units built – two in former courthouse cells and two in a new south wing extension.
Moving up to the first floor, proposals would see former cells converted to provide four offices, along with the delivery of another 13 offices offering up to 600 sq ft of space.
A further six offices would be found on the second floor, as well as a roof terrace overlooking the courtyard.
Outside, the courtyard, which is currently used as a council car park, would be transformed into a public space with proposals including paving, lighting, and planting works.
Notably, works will endeavour to retain “the form and features of the historic building fabric, wherever possible”, according to a design and access statement.
In February, it was announced that office provider W_rkspace will operate the hub.
The £7.4m project is one of six planned under Preston’s £200m Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme. The government awarded Preston £20.9m from its National Towns Fund initiative towards the programme in March 2021, through which the city wishes to transform its historic buildings to provide leisure and employment facilities.
Maple Grove Developments is working with Preston City Council as project manager under the Lancashire Regeneration Property Partnership to deliver the project.
Smith & Love Planning Consultants submitted the application on behalf of the council. The project team also includes SCP Transport, Eden Heritage, E3P, TRP Consulting, and Graham Schofield Associates.
Frank Whittle Partnerships designed the scheme. Credit: via planning documents
Goosnargh Golf Club
Application number: 06/2022/1406
Developer GHV wants to redevelop the 64-acre site off Inglewhite Road in Garstang to create a holiday park.
The Frank Whittle Partnerships-designed scheme would see the creation of 130 lodges, 26 caravan pitches, and 14 office pods in the village of Goosnargh.
Proposals also include a holiday village facility building, featuring an indoor heated pool, tennis courts, a games room, bar, restaurant, and spa.
Plans were submitted for the scheme in January, following a two-stage public consultation last autumn.
PWA Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. The project team also includes Miller Goodall, Eddisons, and Allen Archaeology.
