Green light for Guild Hall revamp

PLANS for the first phase of the Guild Hall restoration project have been approved by Preston City Council.
 
Work is now set to start on £1m-plus project to turn the venue into a cultural hub.
 
Preston architect the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) has been working with the building’s new owner, the Lancashire businessman Simon Rigby, to transform the exterior.

The plans include a new entrance, an atrium, new spaces for cafes and breakout spaces and a high-level digital screen. FWP also wants to replace some of the trees to the front of the building with “more subtle and softer landscaping”.

FWP architect Seb Salisbury said: “The Guild Hall has huge untapped potential in terms of both its enviable location and bold architectural form. The venue is close to the heart of many Prestonians and we have created a design that will breathe new life into what has become a rather tired building.
 
“One of the main objectives of the scheme is to create a defined and symmetrical entrance point for the building that connects more with the public at street level. The scale and form of the new entrance atrium will help to draw people from across the city centre with the intention of creating a cultural hub in Preston and a leading entertainment venue in the North West.”

The Guild Hall was built in 1972-73 to the designs of Scottish architects Robert Matthew and Stirratt Johnson-Marshall – now RMJM – in the Brutalist style like the city’s bus station. Preston Guild Hall Ltd will be part of The Villa Group, which is owned by Mr Rigby.

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