Preston Regeneration Board explores ways to drive regeneration in the city

The Preston Regeneration Board (PRB) has reached a pivotal point in its lifecycle where it will now determine what its future will look like. 

The PRB, a private/public partnership focused on regeneration in Preston, is made up of key city anchor institutions: Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, The University of Lancashire, and Preston Partnership (representing the private sector), working together to transform Preston.

It published Preston 35 in 2024 and meet quarterly to discuss and navigate the delivery of the regeneration priorities set out in Preston 35. 

At a recent meeting held in March, the board discussed its own future structure.

Now in its third year, it will now determine what the future operating model will be, and how it can evolve into a more effective, delivery-driven body capable of unlocking the city’s major growth opportunities.

Graham Baldwin, current chair of the PRB and vice-chancellor of the University of Lancashire said: “The PRB has made good progress and has identified six priority propositions that will bring about transformative change in the city, but now we need a significant step change to drive forward these key projects, turning masterplans into reality, and attracting funding and investment.  

“We will continue to build on our existing positive relationships whilst exploring the opportunities that come with focused development delivery models.

"We will draw on our local strengths and emerging development opportunities that will be catalysts for change, specifically the opportunities that the local government reorganisation of Lancashire brings in the next few years, look at what have been the barriers to date, and how we can overcome those in the future.”

Also, at the recent meeting, the PRB agreed and formally adopted Preston Pioneers: a place making and inward investment marketing campaign to support Preston’s City Strategy and Preston 35.

The PRB will be representing the city of Preston at UK REiiF in Leeds this May, the UK’s largest real estate, investment and infrastructure conference in the commercial property calendar and welcome open discussions with interested parties looking for the next place to invest. 

Businesses looking to showcase inspirational and pioneering stories about people and place in Preston can find out more here www.prestonpioneers.co.uk or contact [email protected]