Piling work begins on £45m Animate complex

Construction of Preston's £45m Animate leisure complex continues to progress with piling work now underway.

Scheduled to complete in June, works starting on the steel structure can begin shortly afterwards. All construction work is expected to be completed in late 2024.

When open to the public, it will offer an eight-screen cinema, a bowling alley, various dining options and a 164 space car park.

The project is one of six planned under Preston's Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the government's national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, in support of the town's £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

John Chesworth, chair of Preston's Towns Fund Strategic Board, said: "The start of the piling work is an auspicious occasion and marks another step toward the renaissance of Preston.

"The Animate complex has already attracted well-respected leisure brands, and together they'll create an impressive offering of activities that will increase footfall to the City, bringing additional economic benefits."

Nick Hague, director at Maple Grove Developments, concluded: 

"Animate will be an exemplar of what can be achieved when the public and private sector work together. A huge amount of collaboration has taken place for us to reach this point and we're now very excited to be on site and delivering this superb scheme for the people of Preston."