Preston leisure scheme on site of former indoor market moves forward

Clearance work has now been completed at the site of the former indoor market and car park at Preston’s Harris Quarter.

The site works have been undertaken to prepare the land for redevelopment ahead of a planning submission this Spring which, if successful, would see the expansion of the flagship scheme to also include bowling.

Preston City Council is working in partnership with Maple Grove and Muse Developments to bring forward the 160,000 sq ft scheme which will include an eight-screen cinema, a 16-lane bowling alley, numerous restaurants and a new multi-storey car park.

Designed by Leach Rhodes Walker, the development will be formally launched with a new identity once planning permission has been secured.

Cllr Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, said: “This cutting-edge and integrated leisure development will reinforce the Harris Quarter as a premier cultural and leisure destination in Lancashire and will help our city centre to thrive as well as promoting an inclusive economy with the development in the ownership of the city when complete.”

Andrew Dewhurst, director at Maple Grove Developments, said: “With the site now cleared we are focused on submitting the revised application in the Spring.

“The inclusion of bowling will add another dimension to the retail and leisure offer and will be a superb addition to Preston city centre.

“We have had a lot of interest in the scheme from a wide variety of leisure operators and it is great to see the first phase of remediation work now complete.”

CBRE and Brady Chartered Surveyors are advising on the scheme.