Preston City Council dials up plans to breathe new life into historic red telephone boxes

Preston City Council is progressing with its plans to restore nine Grade Two-listed red telephone boxes in the heart of the city. 

Having acquired the kiosks outside the former Head Post Office on Market Street in 2021, the City Council is seeking Listed Building Consent (LBC) with a decision expected by March 2024.

Should LBC be granted, the City Council intends to fully restore the boxes in 2024 while considering potential future uses. 

Designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Coronation of King George V in 1935, the cast iron kiosks with timber doors form the longest line of historic red telephone boxes in the UK.  

Having become redundant, the kiosks have been vandalised and fallen into disrepair. 

A Heritage Statement prepared for the City Council by Growth Lancashire Ltd, and following guidelines by Historic England, details numerous benefits of repairing and refurbishing the nine so-called K6 kiosks in the Market Place Conservation Area, the historic centre of Preston featuring other listed buildings such as the former Head Post Office, The Harris Museum, Sessions House and the Town Hall. 

Citing legislation, national guidance, and planning policy for listed buildings, the statement prepared by Growth Lancashire's heritage and conservation team says the boxes represent 'the definitive red telephone kiosk in Britain' and have high historical, communal and aesthetic values. 

The Towns Fund and the City Council will fund the restoration and will be removed off-site for restoration and replaced when completed.  

The Heritage Statement concludes that 'the wider benefits generated by the repair and refurbishment of the telephone kiosks will outweigh any minor concerns caused by the works themselves' and will cause no harm to nearby listed buildings or the wider Market Place Conservation Area. 

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet Member for Culture at Preston City Council, said:

"We are proud to celebrate Preston being the home of the UK's longest line of historic red telephone boxes, an outstanding landmark in the heart of our city that we are committed to bringing back to life for this, and future generations to enjoy. 

"If we are successful in our application for Listed Building Consent, we plan to undertake the necessary restoration works in 2024 to enable the iconic telephone boxes to be animated with dynamic and creative installations. We plan to work with local artists to commission contemporary light, audio visual or graphic works to bring the telephone boxes alive, create a 'must see' and add to the vibrancy of the Harris Quarter." 

Chair of Preston's Towns Fund Strategic Board, John Chesworth, added:  

"The restoration of these iconic telephone boxes is excellent news and again adds to the improvements we're achieving in the Harris Quarter. They are a small but fantastic city asset and bringing them back into use has always been on the agenda.  Once back in use, I'm absolutely positive they'll be a focal point for many people and will be well utilised." 

Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme

The proposed restoration of the kiosks forms an integral part of the wider Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, for which the City was awarded £20.9m from the Government's national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021. 

Harris Quarter is a unique area of Preston undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering via schemes such as the transformation of Amounderness House to provide multi-use workspace, the £45m Animate cinema and leisure complex and refurbishment of Grade I listed Harris Museum, art gallery and library. 

As designer of the boxes, Sir Giles has a strong historic connection with Preston - he also designed the War Memorial Cenotaph in Market Place and his father George Gilbert Scott designed the Town Hall. 

Additional Information

Growth Lancashire Ltd 

Growth Lancashire is the economic development company specialising in heritage and regeneration, owned by several Lancashire local authorities and Lancashire County Council. 

Towns Fund - Town Deals  

On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.

Visit GOV.UK - PM speech at Manchester Science and Industry Museum, to view further details of the announcement.  

Preston's City Investment Plan is a 15-year vision for Preston, setting out Preston's long-term objectives and strategy to transform the City, targeting resources and aligning public and private sector investments to respond to needs and capitalise on opportunities for positive change. 

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. 

Projects included in the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme

Projects included in Preston's £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme are: 

• Animate - £45m multi-use entertainment and leisure complex anchored by a state-of-the-art cinema and bowling venue next to Preston Markets 
• Educate Preston: The creation of a new Careers and Employment, Information, Advice and Guidance Hub in the Harris Quarter. 
• Renewal of Harris Quarter Assets: Investment to support the redevelopment of publicly-owned buildings in the Harris Quarter to support new cultural and community uses, including Amounderness House. 
• Illuminate and Integrate: A project to deliver improved pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure, street lighting and other public realm improvements within the Harris Quarter. 
• Preston Youth Zone: The development of Preston Youth Zone as a state-of-the-art facility for young people in Preston aged eight to 19. 
• #HarrisYourPlace: The refurbishment of the Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library, enhancing and protecting the building for future generations. 
• Preston Pop Ups: £1m pop-up programme of events bringing together new temporary event space, artworks and improvements to public realm infrastructure, aimed at boosting visitor activity in the Harris Quarter.