Muse gains consent for Markets Quarter

Preston City Council has granted planning permission to Muse Developments’ £50m cinema-led leisure scheme in the city centre.

Muse is working in partnership with the council on the plans, made up of an 11-screen cinema operated by The Light, seven family restaurants, a 593-space multi-storey car park and public realm improvements.

The project forms part of the wider regeneration of the Markets Quarter which includes the full refurbishment and redecoration of the grade two-listed market canopies and the construction of a glazed Market Hall.

Under Muse’s scheme, all existing structures on site would be demolished with the exception of the existing Lancastria House Art Deco façade.

The project will see the construction of a large main building with a wing attached to the façade, which would accommodate an ‘experience’ cinema screen within a drum visible above the front of the building.

Frank Whittle Partnership, working alongside Greig & Stephenson, is the lead architect for the markets element of the scheme, restoring the structures and creating a new marketplace.

For Muse’s cinema element, the lead architect is Benoy.

Mike Horner, regional director for Muse Developments, said: “We are making real progress and are delighted with the planning permission. The cinema and Market Quarter developments are hugely exciting, game-changing in fact for Preston. We will now continue to work hard to bring the development to fruition; we’ve already had huge interest from many top national restaurant chains wanting to be part of the scheme, so now’s the time to focus on making it happen.”