Controversial plans for the redevelopment of part of the historic core of Preston’s city centre – including the demolition of some listed buildings – has been approved by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles against the advice of the inspector who held a public inquiry earlier this year.
The inspector recommended refusal of the scheme, though not the listed building consents, on the grounds that while acceptable in retail terms and in respect of affordable housing and improvements to the public realm it would have an adverse impact on congestion in Preston city centre.
Developer Lend Lease’s Tithebarn scheme for a 14.8 hectare site in the city was opposed by neighbouring councils Blackburn and Blackpool who saw it as a threat to their own town centres.
But the SoS said the development would not cause unacceptable harm to its urban neighbours. He also argued that the scheme itself was neither out of scale with its surroundings or unduly dominant.
The Tithebarn scheme plans include large-scale demolition and re-building work, creating a John Lewis store, hotel, cinema, office floor space, restaurants, housing, a new bus station and a revamped market. A bid by English Heritage to list the 1960s bus station failed earlier this year.
Pickles said he agreed with the planning inspector that “neither Blackpool nor Blackburn town centre is so weak that it could not cope with some impact”.
Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council, said: “The minister has clearly seen sense and on balance agreed that the development is in the best interests of Preston, Lancashire and the North West as a whole. Now that we have planning permission, we can continue to work closely with our partners to decide what the next stages are. We all recognise that there is a lot of hard work ahead but getting planning permission is a huge boost for Tithebarn and a huge boost for Preston”.
The decision letter states that:
‘The Inspector recommended that the planning application be dismissed but the listed building consent applications be granted, subject to conditions. For the reasons given below, the Secretary of State agrees with his recommendations on
the listed building consent applications, but disagrees with his recommendation on the planning permission.’
Download the decision letter HERE
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