High-rise Guild Centre acquired by Guild Hall owner

By Napthens

13 Jul 2015

Website

Businessman Simon Rigby, who took over Preston Guild Hall last year, has acquired the high-rise office block, the Guild Centre.

The building, on Lords Walk between the rear of the Guild Hall and Preston Bus Station, has been acquired from Preston Tithebarn General Partner Ltd for an undisclosed sum. The property previously formed part of the now-abandoned Tithebarn regeneration plans and includes the empty site of a former Morrisons supermarket.

Preston City Council will remain owners of the property’s ground rent, and the acquisition, supported by legal advice from David Hill at Napthens solicitors, is intended to allow Mr Rigby’s Villa Group to continue to enhance the offering of the nearby Guild Hall to its users.

Preston’s Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) has been advising Mr Rigby on future uses and possibilities for his company’s acquisitions, including the Guild Hall itself and now the Guild Centre. The architecture and design practice team, led by architect Seb Salisbury, is revitalising the entertainment complex and will be central to new plans to bring the office block into public use.

Part of the property continues to be let to government departments, and The Villa Group intends to bring the former Morrisons site back into use.

David Hill, commercial property partner at Napthens, said: “Through this acquisition, Simon and The Villa Group are perfectly placed to continue their regeneration of Preston city centre’s leisure offering and I look forward to watching as the area is brought back to life.”

Simon Rigby said: “I believe this acquisition is the next step in making Preston Guild Hall an oasis of arts and leisure in the heart of Lancashire.

“The access from the bus station and its associated car park has for many years been an issue for visitors to the Guild Hall.

“This acquisition means we now share ownership of the access with Lancashire County Council, through the authority’s ownership of the Bus Station.

“The Villa Group will work with the county council to make this access much more attractive which will help the Guild Hall and also relieve pressure on the temporary access across the bus station and Tithebarn Street, and both will benefit from the planned developments to the bus station area.

“As Preston City Council remain the owners of the ground rent they are working in partnership with us to ensure the Guild Hall offering to the people of Lancashire is further enhanced.

“The former Morrisons supermarket has been a blot on the landscape for some time, and we hope to bring this back into use shortly. We are looking at a number of leisure options for the site and hope to make an announcement in the near future.”

Seb Salisbury, lead project architect from FWP, said: “There are a number of potential entertainment and leisure uses for the Guild Centre and we will be working on plans for future consideration.

“It has been great to work on far-reaching plans for the continued regeneration of Preston and helping build a vision that will bring the Preston public, and visitors from further afield, back into the city centre and to help drive the night-time economy.

“Our current work revitalising the Guild Hall is already starting to make a difference to the complex and to Preston.” The Villa Group was also advised on the acquisition by Roger Parker & Co Commercial Agents.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Napthens

Latest news

1

BAE figures rise amid heightened uncertain times bae-systems-tempest.jpg

BAE figures rise amid heightened uncertain times

19 Feb 2025

2

BPI Asset Advisory to facilitate the sale of Oddie’s Bakery assets following closure Oddies

BPI Asset Advisory to facilitate the sale of Oddie’s Bakery assets following closure

19 Feb 2025

3

Fylde Council extends Enterprise Zone Development Order to boost economy Lancashire Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Enterprise Zone

Fylde Council extends Enterprise Zone Development Order to boost economy

18 Feb 2025

4

Edge Hill University secures government grant to drive scale-up of international food exporter Peter Hughes, Director left and Frank Roue Director right

Edge Hill University secures government grant to drive scale-up of international food exporter

18 Feb 2025

5

Innovate Lancashire increases business engagement capacity to accelerate county’s innovation growth Natalie Wilson Hannah Churchman Trudi Waldram

Innovate Lancashire increases business engagement capacity to accelerate county’s innovation growth

18 Feb 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Choose Chorley for Business Event - Celebrating Chorley's diverse economy, companies, and success
Choose Chorley event
LBV Hub Networking
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025

Choose Chorley for Business Event - Celebrating Chorley's diverse economy, companies, and success

Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard, PR7 5LP

14:00 - 17:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Understanding & Preventing Sexual Harassment - Creating Safe & Respectful Workplaces
Supporting Women's Health in Your Teams A Path to Success-3.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025

Understanding & Preventing Sexual Harassment - Creating Safe & Respectful Workplaces

*, Online, *

12:30 - 13:30

Women's Health champion training
Supporting Women's Health in Your Teams A Path to Success-6.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Women's Health champion training

*, Online, *

10:00 - 16:00

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work Course - In Person
RKMS ACADEMY LOGO - BLACK AND ORANGE.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work Course - In Person

RKMS Group , Blackpool, FY42DP

09:30 - 17:00

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire
PM and M event
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire

Accrington Stanley Football Club, Accrington, BB5 5BX

08:00 - 10:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February
Freelancer Meet-Up Feb.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Better People Management Workshop
Business Breakfast.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Better People Management Workshop

The Jimmy Arnfield Suite Lancashire Football Association, The County Ground, Thurston Road, Leyland, PR25 2LF

10:00 - 15:30

StackedX with PM+M and CFO Techstack
LBV Hub Seminars
27 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025

StackedX with PM+M and CFO Techstack

Red Hall Hotel, Bury, BL9 5NA

08:00 - 10:00

Better People Management Workshop
LBV Hub Seminars
27 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025

Better People Management Workshop

Pendle Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LJ

10:00 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin