Eric Wright civils arm set for Preston start

Road resurfacing, cycle paths, and improved pedestrian spaces are included within a package of works planned for Friargate South, Cheapside, Market Place and Orchard Street.

Main contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering is scheduled to begin work on the central Preston scheme on Monday 6 July, with works also to include new paving, trees, planting and street furniture.

The works will be carried out in a phased sequence across the different streets for around 12 months.

This is part of Preston City Council’s Active Preston: Transforming our Community Infrastructure programme and part of the £20m Local Regeneration Fund (formerly Levelling Up Fund) secured  from central government in 2023.

Preston later rejigged that funding, with cost inflation across the board leading to reallocations and the shelving of a £9.7m sports hub project at Ashton Park.

Vehicular access into and through the Harris Quarter will change for around 20 weeks involving some temporary road closures and diversions in two phases, said Preston City Council.

Phase one works will start on Cheapside in July and will take approximately 3 months.  Works will also start on one side of Orchard Street as part of the initial phase.

The site compound for EWCE will be located on Chapel Yard car park, near to the Mobility Centre.

Local businesses and traders who will be directly affected by the improvement works in the area have already been consulted by the project team.

Cllr Valerie Wise, deputy leader and cabinet member for community wealth building and city regeneration at Preston City Council, said: “Upgrades to this part of the city are much needed to bring it line with other parts of the city including Fishergate and Friargate North that have already been modernised and transformed.

“The detailed phasing of the works has been planned with businesses and traders in mind to keep ‘business as usual’ a priority throughout the works and we ask everyone to please bear with us whilst we improve what is a very busy retail and visitor destination in the city.”

Gavin Hulme, managing director at EWCE, said: “We recognise that it is a busy and vibrant part of the city, and we will be working alongside the Council to minimise any disruptions.”