Progress for 400 Preston homes, 800,000 sq ft industrial

Portergate found success with its returning application to deliver 120 open market flats, along with Onward Homes’ plans to build 380 homes on the former site of Horrocks Mill, and HBD and Barnfield’s massive employment site off Longridge Road.

Preston City Council signed off the trio of applications at a planning meeting yesterday. These decisions were made in line with officer recommendations.

Here is a rundown of the approved schemes.

Former Horrocks Mill

Application number: 06/2023/0818

Onward Homes is looking to acquire the former Horrocks Mill site between Queen Street and Church Street from its current owners, The Brookhouse Group, having received outline permission from the city council to deliver 380 homes.

An illustrative masterplan drawn up by DK Architects indicates that the now-vacant land once home to Horrocks Mill will occupy a mix of apartments, townhouses, and family homes, accessed off Queen Street and Grimshaw Street.

More than 30% affordable housing provision is proposed to be delivered in the form of affordable rent, rent to buy, and shared ownership properties, subject to viability.

The site is currently used as an open-air car park since the demolition of Horrocks Mill in 1965, although being allocated for development under Preston’s local plan.

Onward held a public consultation in June for feedback on its plans for the land, with plans submitted in July.

Sandy Livingstone, executive director for property at Onward, said: “We can now move forward with confidence to unlock this abandoned brownfield site and transform it into a place that local people can call home.

“Our vision supports the wider aspirations of the council to deliver quality, affordable homes within walking distance of the city centre”, he continued.

“We have worked closely with our local partners to ensure that we deliver a scheme that meets the needs of local people and look forward to bringing this vision to life.”

Nexus Planning is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes Bowland Tree Consultancy, Lanpro, ERAP, Sutcliffe, BEK, and Vectos.

Portergate’s Moor House was initially approved in July. Credit: Virtual Planit

Junction of Moor Lane and Walker Street

Application number: 06/2023/0091

Portergate Developments’ Moor House will feature 120 open market apartments following the city council’s approval of the developer’s decision to backtrack on the build-to-rent element of the scheme.

Known as Moor House, the Buttress-designed scheme was approved in July, originally made up of 100% BTR units to be built opposite the University of Central Lancashire’s newly constructed student centre.

The Section 106 agreement attached to the approved development required a minimum covenant period of 30 years for the build-to-rent units, as well as a clawback mechanism in the event that any build-to-rent units were to be sold. Portergate regarding these obligations to be too restrictive.

Proposals have not been changed in terms of design, and the apartment block will still feature 16 one- and 104 two-bedroom flats.

Martin Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. Ridge and Partners is the transport consultant. The Environment Partnership is the environmental consultant.

HBD and Barnfield Group acquired the 62-acre site in March. Credit: via McCallum Communications

Land at Roman Road Farm

Application number: 06/2022/0745

Barnfield Group and HBD, part of the Henry Boot Group, have secured outline planning permission to create an 800,000 sq ft employment site on the 62-acre site next to Roman Way Industrial Estate.

Named APTUS, the Horizon Fletcher Rae-designed scheme will be made up of 12 industrial and logistics units ranging from 25,000 sq ft to 500,000 sq ft.

It is estimated that the development will create 1,500 jobs, with construction set to start next spring.

HBD and Barnfield submitted the outline plans for APTUS last June, before acquiring the land earlier this year.

The project team includes Mode Transport, Bowland Tree Consultancy, and Bowland Ecology. Sandy Brown is the noise consultant, Ridge and Partners is the flood risk and drainage expert, and BWB is the heritage consultant.

This is not the first time that the joint venture has worked together. The pair have successfully completed the delivery of the 223,000 sq ft EAST logistics scheme, which was sold to Titan Investors last December.

Vivienne Clements, head of industrial and logistics at HBD, said: “It’s fantastic to have secured the go-ahead for APTUS – it will not only deliver high-specification space to support businesses’ growth plans but is a major investment into the area with more than a thousand new jobs.

“We are already in detailed negotiations with a major local employer and conversations are underway with several other interested businesses.”

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development and acquisition for Barnfield Group, added: “Strategically located on the M6 corridor, the scheme is a logistics and industrial hotspot with high quality units designed to suit future occupiers.

“ATPUS provides the necessary flexibility to house multiple functions including warehousing and office space promoting integration for businesses.”

The agents for APTUS are Gerald Eve, Young & Co, and Eckersley Property.