Plans revealed for Preston Station Quarter offices

Preston’s Station Quarter vision has taken a major move forward, with plans for Grade A office accommodation as part of the regeneration of the Fishergate Centre submitted to the city council.

The outline planning application proposes five office blocks rising to 15-storeys and totalling 770,000 sq ft, in the first phase of a wider development plan.

The aim is to create “a significant cluster” of Grade A office accommodation focused on the railway station’s entrance. The first five buildings are seen as a precursor to the overall redevelopment of the complete Fishergate centre.

The planning application has been lodged by MPG, which bought the shopping centre for £8m in 2021.

The offices – which would be part of a wider proposed development – would be built on a car park south of the shopping centre.

The largest of the buildings in the first phase would be around 250,000 sq ft and rise to 15 storeys.

A planning statement has been submitted to the city council by architects BDP.

It says: “The regeneration of Fishergate Shopping centre presents a rare opportunity to consider and reboot the heart of a traditional industrial city, creating a distinctive and attractive development with the enduring appeal of Prestons’ rich industrial history which will make this place such a unique place to work.

“The project is an important step in making the first stage in delivery of the SQRF (Station Quarter Regeneration Framework) city masterplan vision, supporting work to regenerate the city centre around the station quarter.

“The development will breathe new life into the former stock yard and retail site to create a new destination to shop, work and hang out.

“The project provides an opportunity to build a new mixed-use community on the former railway site and to provide an incredible place come and work alongside a bustling new public square for civic use, live events and more.

“Our vision includes a new linear soft landscaped boulevard linking Fishergate towards the river and bringing greenery into the heart of the development and creating a place where people want to spend time.”

Mark Rawstron, is property and regeneration spokesperson for Lancashire Business Board, which championed the recently published Lancashire Growth Plan, developed by Lancashire Combined County Authority and which includes the Preston Station Quarter.

He said: “Preston Station Quarter is a transformational initiative designed to unlock Preston’s potential as a dynamic commercial and residential hub.

“Anchored by almost £1bn of investment and its proximity to the National Cyber Force headquarters, the project will deliver high quality office space, housing and public realm to strengthen the city’s role as a regional growth engine and enhance east-west connectivity across Lancashire.”

The need for Grade A office accommodation in Preston has been highlighted by business leaders in the city for some time.

Speaking to Lancashire Business View earlier this year, city-based entrepreneur and investor Rob Binns said the Station Quarter was “critical” for the Preston’s professional services sector.

He said: “There are no Grade A offices. If a professional services firm wanted to come here, they would want enough capacity to bring to full team in and not to be a satellite operation.

“There is also the issue of staff retention. We’re competing against Manchester and Liverpool with their big shiny buildings. That is what we need at the heart of our connectivity, which is the train station.

“A business quarter, the leisure offering and the city living strategy all converging at around the same time, that would make a difference.”