Preston to approve Praxis’ £98m St John’s vision
A trio of residential blocks offering up to 500 apartments could replace the city centre shopping complex if the city council votes in favour of the plans next week.
Praxis Real Estate wants to deliver two blocks where St John’s Shopping Centre currently stands and another at the neighbouring 77-97 Tithebarn Street.
A 16-storey block with 210 flats and another rising to 11 storeys containing 152 apartments would feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bed homes.
Praxis’s scheme would also incorporate another proposed 11-storey building that already has planning consent. Isle of Man-based Wansfell secured permission for Tithebarn Gateway, a 90-flat development, in 2023.
Preston City Council’s planning committee is expected to approve the outline plans next week. The scheme has a gross development value of £98m.
As well as one-, two-, and three-bed flats, the scheme features 75,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floors of the two buildings. The development could also include an NHS neighbourhood health facility.
Praxis acquired the shopping centre from Landsec for £4m in 2014. St John’s Shopping Centre was built in the 1960s and comprises a discount retail shopping centre with 26 units.
Lambert Smith Hampton has submitted the plans on Praxis’s behalf, working with NW Architects, which designed the blocks.
The project team includes Stantec, Planit, Donald Insall Associates, GIA, Calico, Collington Winter, and Tetra Tech.
To view the application, use the planning reference number 06/2025/0991 in Preston City Council’s planning portal.
This is miles better than the current shopping centre which is massively outdated. Its also opens up the space and gives access to the Market. A big positive for Preston
By Jon P
Fantastic project that will dramatically improve the connection between the Market and the bus station. Really looking forward to this project being built out!
By Anonymous
Really hope this happens, will really improve the area and Connect well with the new anímate
By Pr1
Big yes from me. This would be a great addition and knit parts of the city together
By Katie
Yes to modern design, city-centre apartments and joining up the bus station with the market!
By Black Rose
And none of these flats would be affordable housing.
By Phillip Nash