Council considers 160-acre Cuerden masterplan
South Ribble Council has released plans for the employment-led development of a large strategic site near Preston.
The proposals set out a top-line vision to build a mix of commercial, industrial and leisure uses to create up to 2,500 jobs.
The Cuerden strategic site is identified under the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire city deal, a £430m regeneration agreement between Preston City Council, South Ribble Council, Lancashire County Council and central government which will deliver transport, infrastructure and community improvements.
The land is near to the M65, M6 and M61, as well as other major roads and the West Coast Mainline.
Any development at Cuerden would be supported by road improvements, including the widening of the A582 into a dual carriageway.
The plans, which have been drawn up by Lancashire County Council, are set to be considered at a special meeting of South Ribble Council's planning committee on 6 November.
If the masterplan is approved, the council will launch a six-week public consultation before developing detailed proposals.
Cllr Cliff Hughes, South Ribble Council's cabinet member with responsibility for strategic planning and housing, said: "We are committed to supporting the growth of our borough by meeting the development needs of businesses. We want to make the right land available at the right time to support investment and innovation, which will provide opportunities for our highly-skilled workforce. We also must manage this growth in a co-ordinated way, so this masterplan has been developed to ensure a comprehensive approach is adopted for the site, which itself is part of a much bigger jigsaw."
Masterplan says its to “include retail, employment, commercial,industrial and Green Infrastructure uses” – what impact will this have on central Chorley, Leyland and Preston which are crying out for investment? What happened to a town centre first policy? Any heavy retail and commercial use on this site should be avoided. How is this going to help, for example, an alternative Tithebarn scheme? This proposal appears at odds with all manner of sustainable regeneration and economic development principles – in the consultation I would urge people to reject it outright.
By Sceptic