Green light for new £2m Preston retail park

Proposals for a major retail park in the centre of Preston have been given the go ahead following unanimous approval from city planners.

Designed by architectural and planning consultancy, Cassidy + Ashton, on behalf of Brookhouse Group, the scheme has already attracted the UK’s sixth biggest supermarket, Aldi, which will occupy an 18,500 sq ft food store.

Dubbed the ‘Horrocks Quarter’, phase one includes the redevelopment of Queens Retail Park, off Queen Street, to create commercial, retail and leisure spaces, as well as changes to access and reconfiguration of the car park.

Work is expected to start on site in June and complete in October. A planning application for phase two is due to be submitted later this year.

Neil Dermott, associate director at Cassidy + Ashton, said: “The scheme will provide significant employment opportunities to local residents and help to draw people into the city centre and away from out of town retail parks. “We have worked closely with Brookhouse Group to devise a scheme that will attract major national operators and provide significant investment to Preston.”