Preston England Temple to expand with 554-bed faith centre

A visitor centre, a teaching block, a communal and faith building, and two accommodation blocks totalling 61,300 sq ft for attendees to the church’s For the Strength of Youth programme have been approved by Chorley Council.

Billed as a faith and learning hub, the 21,800 sq ft centrepiece will comprise a multi-purpose hall and auditorium space alongside a dining room now that The Church of the Latter-day Saints has approval.

The auditorium itself will have a seated capacity of 754 people, while an external covered terrace would be able to accommodate 300 more.

Eight classrooms will make up the 11,900 sq ft teaching block, which will include an office, foyer, and storage space.

As for accommodation, both three-storey blocks will provide shared dorms for 554 people. The 25,500 sq ft Block one will contain 204 four-bunk rooms, with six being accessible.

Larger 35,800 sq ft Block two will host three two-bunk bedrooms in addition to a further 65 four-bunk rooms.

The development will also add a 2,900 sq ft single-storey visitor centre, with a security hub.

Credit: The church’s existing facilities lie to the west of the site. Credit: via planning documents

The Preston England Temple, to the west of the M61, is a religious site for members of The Church of the Latter-day Saints and was built over four years, completing in 1998.

As a place of worship, it also hosts traditional ceremonies, marriages, and family sealings.

The faith and learning centre’s purpose is to accommodate the church’s annual youth programme, known as ‘For the Strength of the Youth’ – a typically five-day-long activity schedule that hosts young members from around the world.

The church hopes to encourage more youth to its faith centre. Credit: via planning documents

Savills worked as the planning consultant for the application. Corstorphine & Wright and Fabrik designed the scheme. Others on the project team Arbtech, Solas Realta, Sylvan Resources, Cooper Homewood, Acoustic Consultants, and Scott White and Hookins.

To view the application, use the planning reference number 25/00343/FULMAJ on Chorley Council’s planning portal.