£80m district centre gets the go-ahead

PRESTON City Council’s planning committee has approved an £80m regeneration scheme which will include a new district centre at the former Cottam Brickworks site.

The scheme off Benson Way, which will create a new mixed use centre providing a range of retail, leisure and health facilities for local residents was submitted to the council by Lancashire-based planning consultancy De Pol Associates.

The plans also include a supermarket and other retail uses, public house, restaurant, petrol station, crèche and health hub, which could potentially accommodate a GP surgery and pharmacy providing a total floorspace of 102,000sq ft.
 
The 13.85 hectare site will see a supermarket and offices within a mixed use development that responds to the site’s new designation as a District Centre.

The proposals will provide a focus for the local community and generate a significant number of jobs both in the initial construction and in the subsequent operation of the centre.
 
De Pol Associates, currently celebrating its 30th year of providing planning and development advice, won planning consent for the developer, Cottam Hall Properties.
 
Marco De Pol, managing director of De Pol, 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 are understandably thrilled that the plans for the new District Centre have been approved by the planning committee.
 
“The developers have had a great deal of support for the scheme from the local community and approval of the scheme by the planning department is a key milestone in the delivery of this new facility.”