Brickworks’ £80m plan lays foundations for the future

A FULL range of community amenities lies at the heart of a new, improved £80m regeneration plan to transform the old Cottam Brickworks site in Preston.

The city’s planning committee will be asked in April to back the construction of a new District Centre.

It is designed to be central to both the existing area and new community proposed as part of the Local Plan and North West Preston Masterplan.

Lancashire-based planning consultancy De Pol Associates has submitted outline plans to create the new District Centre in the north west of the city on behalf of Cottam Hall Properties.

The plans include a supermarket and other retail outlets, a public house, a restaurant, a petrol filling station and a crèche.

The blueprint also includes a health hub, which could potentially accommodate a GP’s surgery and a pharmacy.

The plans received overwhelming support at a local public consultation event. If approved the construction project and the commercial development will provide hundreds of jobs locally.

The 13.85 hectare site already has planning permission for a supermarket, offices and up to 206 homes.

Following the site’s designation as a District Centre as a focus for the community, De Pol’s new application proposes replacing the approved supermarket and offices with the mixed-use development.

As well as the new homes, the proposed development will also serve the existing communities of Ingol, Tanterton and Cottam.

Marco De Pol is managing director of De Pol Associates, which is celebrating 30 years of providing planning and development advice from its Preston offices.

He said: “We have been advising Cottam Hall Properties for a number of years on planning matters relating to the redevelopment of the brickworks site.

“Following significant investment and commitment to the site, Cottam Hall Properties has asked us to submit the plans for the new District Centre and they are now in front of the city’s planners.

“The developers have had a great deal of support for the scheme from the community and it is hoped the plans will be welcomed by Preston City Council.”

Ian Rankin, director of Cottam Hall Properties, said: “Shops and amenities, such as the ones we are proposing, are sorely missing from this part of Preston.

“Our vision is that this will be a very complete development, well served by public transport. Sustainability has been a key priority in our thinking.”