Work starts on Leyland £38m Town Deal

Sutcliffe Projects has begun site investigation work on Ecroyd Street Car Park in the town centre to prepare for the demolition of the former NFM Iddons Factory off Quin Street.

The factory’s demolition will make way for the creation of business hub BASE2, as well as 22 homes featuring 16 townhouses and six apartments.

William Baldwin, director of Sutcliffe Projects, said: “The Leyland Town Deal aims to support business growth, the regeneration of the local town centre, and improvements in infrastructure – pillars we are immensely proud to align ourselves with at Sutcliffe.”

Charles Hadcock, chair of the Leyland Town Deal board, added: “It is great to see the Leyland Town Deal moving forward with work already started on this phase to prepare the site and the demolition work to follow on very soon afterwards.”

These steps mark the next phases in the delivery of Leyland’s six Town Deal projects, which will also see the creation of a total of 53 homes and 6,900 sq ft of retail and leisure space.

Leyland Market will also be upgraded with a new Northcote Street entrance, as well as renovated stalls and an 850 sq ft extension.

Phase one of the wider project was approved in April. This will see the demolition of Sovereign House and three commercial units off Hough Lane to create Church Place ‘pocket park’ and a mixed-use building with 2,600 sq ft of retail and leisure space and four flats.

The £38m masterplan is being funded by £25m from the government’s Towns Fund Investment. South Ribble Council is providing a further £13m.

Cllr Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Council, said: “The Town Deal funding is a great opportunity to bring much-needed investment to Leyland town centre and progress on the scheme brings the prospect of improved economic benefits closer to reality.”

All six applications for the Town Deal schemes were approved by South Ribble’s planning committee in February. The government signed off on the business cases last October.

Wilson Mason is the architect for the wider masterplan. The project team also includes structural and drainage consultant Woolgar Hunter, transport consultant Curtins, and landscape architect Lanpro. Steven A Hunt & Associates is the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing consultant.

To find out more about BASE2 and the residential plans for Quin Street, search for application numbers 00737 and 00748 on South Ribble’s planning portal, respectively.