Towns Fund - Shortlisted projects
A total of 31 projects, with a total funding need of £58 million, were put forward for the Towns Fund investment.
Short-listed projects
The following regeneration projects were short-listed. They will breathe new life into the Harris Quarter by creating a diverse culture, leisure and employment offer, which will strengthen the city centre as Preston recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Harris Your Place
Harris Your Place is the refurbishment of the Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library, which sits at the heart of the Harris Quarter. This is one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the region with the aim of enhancing and protecting the building for generations to come. The improvements will provide an innovative environment in which museum, library, art gallery collections and services merge to provide one seamless, flexible and community-led hub.
Renewal of Harris Quarter Assets
Investment to support the redevelopment of key Harris Quarter assets, such as Amounderness House and 10/12 Lancaster Road, to bring about business, cultural and community uses.
Animate - Cinema and Leisure Scheme
Animate is a new £40 million cinema and leisure complex situated next to Preston Markets on the site of the old indoor market and car park. The project will include the following:
- Eight-screen cinema including a large format experience screen
- 16 lane Bowling alley
- 5 new restaurants and bars
- Street food hub
- New public terrace next to Preston Markets
- A new replacement multi-storey car park
Animate will attract a family friendly audience and strengthen Preston's day and night-time economy. Once complete, the project will create over 100 jobs and be in the ownership of Preston City Council. It will breathe life into the city centre and help anchor the Harris Quarter as a leading leisure and culture destination in the region.
Illuminate and Integrate
Illuminate and Integrate is a project to deliver improved pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure, street lighting and other public realm improvements within the Harris Quarter. It includes the upgrading of the public realm on the southern section of Friargate from Ring Way up to the Flag Market, linked to the improvements to the northern section which are being funded through the GOV.UK - Transforming Cities Fund. Building illumination and digital projections also form part of this project.
Preston Youth Zone
Preston Youth Zone would be a state of the art facility for young people aged 8-19 years with the simple aim to 'provide young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to'.
Preston Youth Zone would offer social, sporting and artistic spaces, including:
- an all-weather pitch
- large sports hall
- climbing wall
- dance studio
- music and multimedia suites
- employability and enterprise rooms
- large recreation area and subsidised café
The project sponsor anticipates 4000-5000 young people would become members within the first year.
Educate Preston
The creation of a new Educate Preston will provide a central location within the Harris Quarter, which can be used as a support hub for skills and career advice services by local partners - including Preston's College and Cardinal Newman College. Young people and adults will be able to access outstanding Careers and Employment, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and the provision of education and training which supports them into employment.