Plans lodged for Lancashire’s tallest building
TSS Property wants to develop a 30-storey apartment building rising to 96 metres in Preston city centre.
Branded Altura, the £40m scheme, if delivered, would be the tallest building in Lancashire, knocking the 94-metre Church of St. Walburge off its perch.
Designed by David Cox Architects, the tower would feature 218 apartments -163 one-bedroom units, and a further 55 with two bedrooms.
Resident amenities proposed include a gym, Pilates studio, games room, and a cinema. All of the apartments will benefit from winter garden balconies, the developer said.
The scheme would be constructed on a 0.2-acre site off Derby Street between Preston bus station and Chruch Street that is currently being used as a surface level car park.
The project, which also features plans for 6,700 sq ft of office space, would be the largest to date for TSS Property, which earlier this year acquired Norwest Court and Guildhall House from Wain Estates.
The company is currently delivering City Walk, a £20m build-to-rent development comprising 122 apartments on Lords Walk. TSS anticipates work on Altura could begin in 2027.
Steven Gallagher, managing director of David Cox Architects, said: “Altura has taken three years of design development and evolution, and an unwavering commitment from a team of dedicated professionals. We are all proud to be playing a part in shaping the future of Preston.
“Once complete, Altura will be an elegant, contemporary building; one that reflects Preston’s ambition and celebrates its growing status as a dynamic urban centre. We are confident that it will make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the city’s evolving skyline. We look forward to seeing Altura take its place as an inspiring symbol of the city’s progress and ambition.”
The plans have been submitted in outline. To learn more, search for reference number 06/2025/0818 on Preston City Council’s planning portal.
As well as David Cox Architects, the project team features S&L Planning Consultants, PDS Vision, TPM Landscapes, Reid Jones, and Tetra Tech.
If its built out of lego it may be viable.
By Anonymous
How does everyone feel about the Americanisation of British cities?
By Anonymous
I am a proud Prestonian so to discover that there is going to be a very tall apartment building in the Preston City Centre truly makes me extremely appreciative to our Preston City Council that’s thankfully not yet being dominated by that Reform political party who nowadays have overtook those Conservatives in the Lancashire County Council.
By Nolts57
This would never be approved in Liverpool.
By Anonymous
Will this one actually get out of the ground or be substantially watered down as so many other projects have ?
By Steven Kirkbride
Nice 🙂
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
Good place for it, to build up apartments and office space around the bus station. Would fit well with a new St John’s. Go for it.
By Black Rose
The Americanisation of the UK began decades ago with Elvis, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Levis. Tall buildings are just the latest manifestation.
By Anonymous
I’d argue that the tallest building in Lancashire is the South Tower at Deansgate Square and this development won’t change that. Much like the highest mountain in Lancashire is Coniston Old Man. The 1972 Local Government Act may have changed administrative boundaries, but the idea of “Lancashire” as the County Palatine pre-dates that by 800 years.
By Local Interest
The South Tower Deansgate is in Greater Manchester not Lancashire. Manchester hasn’t been in Lancashire since the early 1970s, live with it.
By Anonymous