Eric Wright completes £5.9m East Manchester civils project

The county council is seeking permission to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire land to build a train station north-west of Preston city centre, as part of a plan to support the delivery of 5,000 homes in the area. 

Blackpool, Barrow-in-Furness and Warrington are among the first seven locations to have funding bids accepted as part of the Government’s much-vaunted levelling-up programme.

This year will see fresh services launched including a development map to complement news stories and branded content production for partners.

The opening of the £17.5m Penwortham Bypass in Lancashire this month paves the way for proposed improvements to the town centre, including a public realm and pedestrian-friendly high street, according to the council.

Road closures will begin in Preston this week to make way for an overhaul of highways around the Adelphi Quarter, part of the delivery of the University of Central Lancashire’s £60m Student Centre and civic square.

The Preston city region is to receive £50,000 to develop a business case for transport improvements as it seeks to secure a share of £2.5bn Government funding.

Airport consultancy York Aviation has made a number of recommendations for investment in infrastructure, operations and management of Blackpool Airport, with the return of commercial services to holiday destinations virtually ruled out.