Planning application approved for iconic Preston building

Plans to improve the accessibility and safety of Preston’s Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library have taken a step forward as proposed internal and external changes to the building have been unanimously approved by Preston City Council’s planning committee.

The project to reimagine the Harris – called #HarrisYourPlace – is designed to conserve the Grade I-listed building and ensure its future as a community hub and world class cultural attraction for future generations.

The planned works have been informed by in-depth consultation with local people, community groups and partners, as well as Historic England.

The improvements are designed to return the building to its original splendour and reveal some of the Harris’ original architectural details which have previously been hidden.

#HarrisYourPlace will also make the building more accessible to an additional 100,000 visitors per year – attracting more visitors and tourists to other businesses and services in Preston.

Plans include accentuating an original entrance way to improve accessibility and introducing a new internal lift and staircase, replacing the aged fire exit stairs and helping visitors to move more easily between different floors and spaces.

They also allow much-needed conservation works on the roof and basement that will help to address the building’s long-standing damp problem, which poses a future threat to the Harris’ collections.

The alterations to the internal layout would mean that more of the Harris’ extensive collections of paintings, textiles, sculpture, photography, historic books and digital art – many of which are internationally significant – can be displayed.

Cllr Peter Kelly, cabinet member for culture and leisure services, said: “Planning approval is a major step forward in this project which is important, not only for the Harris building, but for Preston and Lancashire more broadly helping to bring more visitors to our city.

“We are proud custodians of the Harris Museum and we take very seriously our role to protect the building and ensure that it can be used and appreciated by generations to come.”

He added: “The Harris is a building in use and, as such, we have a duty to ensure that it can be accessed and enjoyed by all.

“We are, therefore, pleased to have received approval for the plans which are both sympathetic to its architecture and offer vital benefits to its accessibility, safety and suitability as a home to its precious collections.”

Following approval by the planning committee, the application now requires final ratification by the Secretary of State Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

A bid for £4.5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to enable delivery of the project has also been made, with a decision due in March. An additional £3.6m of funding is already in place from Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, Arts Council England and local supporters, including members of the public and the Friends of the Harris.

If approval is gained from both the Secretary of State and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, then works will get under way in October 2021.