The Preston Tithebarn redevelopment project was a £700 million[1] city centre regeneration initiative in Preston, Lancashire.

The project was intended to be developed by Preston Tithebarn Partnership, a 50/50 joint venture between Grosvenor and Lend Lease Corporation[2] in partnership with Preston City Council. In October 2005, Preston City Council and Grosvenor[3] signed an agreement to go ahead with the Tithebarn regeneration project as part of Council's broader plans for Preston city. Tithebarn was objected to by neighbouring councils[4] and the scheme was abandoned in 2011.[5]

History

Preston Bus Station

In 2000, opposition to the demolition of the existing Preston bus station led to an application to English Heritage for listed building status (as an example of 1960s brutalist architecture). Preston Borough Council among others opposed the application which ultimately was unsuccessful.[6] Putting forward the case for a smaller terminus, a report, commissioned by the council and Grosvenor, stated that "buses arriving and leaving the bus station have very low bus occupancy rates indicating that passengers alight and board elsewhere in the city centre. The bus station car park similarly suffers from the poor pedestrian linkages."[7]

The project

The Preston Tithebarn project was to cover an area of approximately 32 acres (13 ha) in Preston city centre and include a John Lewis department store, a new Marks and Spencer department store, revitalised markets, restaurants, cafes, new cinemas, around 100 new shops, offices, homes, refurbished Guild Hall, a new bus station and extensive new public spaces and pedestrianised streets.[2]

Development events

In January 2007, John Lewis confirmed it would anchor the development with a 230,000 sq ft (21,000 m2) department store. In 2008 they released designs for the flagship store on their website.[8]

Pre-planning public consultation for the Preston Tithebarn project was conducted by Preston Tithebarn Partnership between May 2008 and June 2008, and thereafter by appointment. The Preston Tithebarn Information Centre at 50-52 Lancaster Road, Preston (next to the Guild Hall) was created for the public consultation where visitors were able to view plans, information and a 3D model.[9]

Preston Tithebarn Partnership submitted a hybrid planning application to Preston City Council in September 2008. All development within the application boundary was submitted with some matters reserved, except for the 1875 Covered Market and Fish Market for which full details were submitted.[citation needed]

In October 2008, Marks and Spencer confirmed it would join Preston Tithebarn as the second anchor, with plans to build a 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2) store.[10]

In December 2008, Cineworld Cinemas also confirmed it would join Preston Tithebarn, with plans to build a new multi-screen cinema.[11]

On 14 July 2009, following 2 days of presentations, questioning and debate, Preston City Council Planning Committee approved the application.[12] The matter proceeded to Government Office North West.

In November 2011 the scheme was abandoned after department store John Lewis pulled out.[5]

Listed building status

In January 2010 an application by The Twentieth Century Society to have the bus station registered as listed building was rejected by the Secretary of State[13] which paved the way for the public enquiry into the Tithebarn development to proceed.

In May and June 2010 a Public enquiry was held into the Preston Tithebarn Project.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Preston's £700m Tithebarn scheme abandoned". Builder & Engineer. Excel Publishing Company Ltd. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions". Preston Tithebarn General Partner Limited. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  3. ^ Coppell, Richard (16 April 2010). "App/N2345/V/09/2113472 The Preston Tithebarn Partnership Heart of Tithebarn Regeneration Area Proof of Evidence". Lend Lease. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  4. ^ The case against Tithebarn Archived 2011-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b Preston's Tithebarn plans scrapped as John Lewis withdraws. BBC News. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Department of Culture, Media and Sport: Minister's Decision on Central Bus Station and Car Park, Preston". The Save Preston Bus Station Campaign. Retrieved 31 January 2007.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Preston Town Centre Analysis Précis document" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  8. ^ "John Lewis to anchor Tithebarn Project in Preston". John Lewis Partnership. 26 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  9. ^ Preston City Council (27 May 2008). "Preston Tithebarn Regeneration Plans on Show". Preston City Council.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Marks & Spencer plan massive new store in Preston". Lancashire Telegraph. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  11. ^ Chesters, Laura (22 December 2008). "Cineworld signs at Preston scheme". Property Week. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  12. ^ "City's £700m plans given go-ahead". BBC News. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Bus station 'may be demolished'". BBC News. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Preston Tithebarn development public inquiry begins". BBC News. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2011.

External links

Press releases

News articles and comment

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