Caro’s Preston student scheme primed for approval 

The developer wants to build a 227-unit student scheme on part of the former Preston police headquarters on Lawson Street.

Preston City Council has recommended Caro Developments’ project be approved when its planning committee meets next week. 

The scheme would see a part seven-, part nine-storey L-shaped block constructed on the corner of Lawson Street and Walker Street. 

The complex, which would offer a study zone, cinema room and gym, would be used by students of the University of Central Lancashire, located nearby. 

The neighbouring eight-storey former office block previously used by the police has already been converted into student halls by BPS Developments, a vehicle of the Mahoney family that sold the remainder of the site to Caro. 

Falconer Chester Hall is the architect behind the £22m scheme and Zerum is advising on planning. LDA Design is advising on landscape.  

To learn more, search for planning reference number 06/2022/1346 on Preston City Council’s planning portal.  

The Lawson Street project is Caro’s first foray into Preston. 

While Caro looks destined for success when Preston Council’s planning committee meets next week, the authority is expected to reject another developer’s request to change the parameters of a previous planning permission. 

Unicorn Hall, which is currently under construction, was approved as short-stay accommodation. The consent stipulated the 126-apartment scheme could be occupied for 90 days a year. 

The applicant, Unicorn Developments, is seeking a change to the planning conditions that would allow the development to be occupied for 51 weeks of the year so that it could be used as student accommodation. 

However, Preston City Council is expected to refuse the request, stating the applicant has “failed to demonstrate a need for additional apartments for students in Preston”.