LR Nick Hague Valerie Wise Brian Moore Chris Hayward John Chesworth FINAL

From left: MGD's Nick Hague, Cllr Valerie Wise, Brian Moore, Chris Hayward, and John Chesworth. Credit: via Limitless PR

Phase one finished on Harris Quarter revamp

The initial stage of the “illuminate and integrate” public realm improvement delivered by Maple Grove and Eric Wright Civil Engineering for Preston City Council has been completed.

Work on phase two of the project is due to start in late autumn.

The project has been designed to improve pedestrian and cycle space at a section of Lancaster Road adjacent to the Market Hall and Old Vicarage Road.

New paving has been introduced, along with trees and public seating and an expanded, flexible-use space around the market to create an F&B opportunity.

A feature of the works on Old Vicarage is the installation of ‘Gobo’ lighting which projects moving images onto the pavements, lighting the way to Preston Market and animating the journey from the landmark bus station to the newly opened £45m Animate leisure development.

In October, planning permission was granted for the Illuminate element of the scheme with improved lighting consisting of new and replacement columns, wall and canopy lights, and a mixture of heritage and modern lighting as the council looks to make the area better lit and safer, with more energy-efficient systems.

The lighting improvements extend to additional streets Birley, Earl, Cheapside, and Market Street.

Phase two of the works will focus on Lancaster Road. The public realm works will maintain the existing service and taxi provision, while Lancaster Road between Old Vicarage and Earl Street will be permanently closed to vehicles.

Preston’s cabinet member for community wealth building, Cllr Valerie Wise, said: “The proposed works are focused on improving the quality of the public spaces and creating safer and better paths between existing spaces and transport hubs such as the bus station.

“The aim is to encourage footfall and visitors to stay longer into the evening, supporting the Harris Quarter ‘as a go-to cultural destination in the city.”

This scheme is being delivered by MGD, developer of Animate, and its sister business Eric Wright Civil Engineering on behalf of the local authority, under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme with funding from the Towns Fund, the city council and Lancashire County Council.

John Chesworth, chair of Preston Towns Fund strategic board, added: “While it may only be a small part of the overall jigsaw, lighting fundamentally impacts place-making.

“Quite literally, Illuminate will showcase Preston’s fine architecture, promoting the areas of the Harris Quarter while creating an attractive but dynamic lighting scene and encouraging footfall to this area of Preston.”

Nick Hague, project director at Maple Grove Developments, continued, “The scheme has been designed to sympathetically create a contemporary feel to the area without dismissing the heritage of the Harris Quarter. It’ll promote safety and assurance while helping to create a positive ambience.”

Your Comments

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Spaces are not safe now due to speeding cyclists. Primarily those delivering food.

By Berni

The council seem incapable of doing a good job. Why waste more money on doing more new paving when the whole of fishergate is a disgrace. If you’re going to lay flags it helps when work underneath is required to lift them carefully so they can go back down after. But no let’s ruin the look and go cheap with tarmac infills. Sometimes this happens within weeks, like on friargate outside Scof. Utterly pointless trumpeting things that will be a disgrace due to poor workmanship and no maintenance. Hang your heads in shame all involved.

By Tax payer

Typical negative comments about Preston. Some good work has been happening around Harris, Friargate and the uni. Loads of opportunities to develop sites around the area too.

By Preston Rose

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