Plans submitted for revival of historic Preston building

By Tim Aldred

24 Jun 2024

Harris Institute

A planning application has been submitted to Preston City Council to bring the Grade II-listed Harris Institute back to life.

The Institute is on Historic England’s At Risk Register and has been empty for almost a decade. 

The building's current owners, The Harris Investment Group, hope to fully refurbish it and have applied for a change of use for coworking and exhibition space, an art shop and gallery and conference and café facilities.

The application also includes the conversation of Regent House to nine holiday let and a new courtyard and improved access.

The building was originally opened in 1849 and was later funded by benefactor Edmund Robert Harris who stipulated that it should be used for educational purposes.

Its original title was the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. In recent years it became the Harris School of Art and then the Darul Aloom Islamic Institution.

The owners are engaging with Historic England and exploring opportunities for funding bids to support the building’s restoration.

Studio John Bridge Architects are leading the project with Gately Smithers Purlow Heritage Specialists, Eden Planning for planning consultancy and cost analysis from The QS Company.

Speaking about the application submission John Bridge, the architect for the scheme said: “We were delighted with the response to our public consultation last year and recognise that there is a significant amount of interest across the city in the building’s restoration.

"As a Prestonian myself, I’m proud to be working with The Harris Investment Group on this exciting project. The site in its current form is very much a blank canvas and we are still open to new and fresh ideas about the building’s future."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Date revealed for opening of entries for Red Rose Awards 2026 Red Rose Awards 2025

Date revealed for opening of entries for Red Rose Awards 2026

14 Jul 2025

2

Northcote celebrates prestigious industry marketing award for the 25th anniversary of Culinary Festival Obsession Northcotes winning awards

Northcote celebrates prestigious industry marketing award for the 25th anniversary of Culinary Festival Obsession

14 Jul 2025

3

Applebridge take over first floor letting at Ackhurst Business Park in Chorley John Kiernan - Construction Director & Paul Troubridge - Project Director; from the Applebridge Family

Applebridge take over first floor letting at Ackhurst Business Park in Chorley

14 Jul 2025

4

Expanding Airframe Designs appoints new advisory board chairman David Roberts and Jerrod Hartley

Expanding Airframe Designs appoints new advisory board chairman

14 Jul 2025

5

Booths win gold at International Cheese and Dairy awards Cheese counter at Booths

Booths win gold at International Cheese and Dairy awards

14 Jul 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
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

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

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

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

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 LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin