Preston City Centre plans revealed

Preston is beginning to map out the direction the city will take over the next 20 years, with the message that it’s open for business.

Options include simplifying the planning process to encourage businesses to take over empty shops in the city centre and bringing more families into the city with a cinema or bowling and late night shopping.

Chris Blackburn, planning officer, said: “The city has enormous potential to grow, with unrivalled connectivity with the rest of the country, by both road and rail, and is home to a world-class university.

“There are wide-ranging development opportunities within the city centre, making it crucial that we plan positively for the future. At a pivotal point in its history, our message is clear: Preston is open for business.”

Comments are invited on the Issues Paper; the deadline for submitting comments is 5pm on December 19. Preferred options will be drawn up by spring 2013, with another public consultation on the final version of the plan taking place at the end of 2013. The plans will then be checked by the government and, if approved, it will be adopted at the end of 2014.

Details can be found online at www.preston.gov.uk/citycentreplan