Green light for 19-storey Preston skyscraper ends seven-year wait

Plans for a 120-apartment, 19-storey building in Preston city centre have been granted approval seven years after first being proposed.

The building, which will become one of the city's tallest, is to be constructed on Moor Lane facing the University of Central Lancashire’s newly developed University Square.

Anthony Jackson, chairman of Portergate Developments (Preston) Limited which has brought forward the plans, said: “We are extremely proud and excited to finally get planning permission for our major development on Moor Lane. It has taken us seven years of hard work and negotiation to get it through planning but now we have the opportunity to create something very special in Preston.

"As part of this we will make a payment of £600,000 towards providing affordable housing for the city. We look forward to seeing it spent wisely and hope that is used to really make a difference to the social housing needs in the city.

"We are looking forward to creating quality apartments in the heart of Preston’s growing university quarter and are excited to be able to help the city grow in its ambitions to cement it’s place as the North West’s third city.

"When we first built Friargate Court we wanted it to be the very best student accommodation in Preston, and we achieved that. We have similar ambitions for Moor Lane and want to be able to provide the city with superior apartments providing a high quality of accommodation for professionals, something which we feel that the city has been lacking in.”

The building will feature a residents social area, remote working spaces and full concierge area.

Portergate Developments is currently in the process of appointing a contractor to work on the project. An announcement on this will be made in the coming weeks.