This week there’ve been a number of comments about the proposed Tithebarn project in Preston. Preston Council says that developers will pay for a number of improvements like the Guild Hall if it goes ahead and the North West Development Agency will contribute. Otherwise the money will be lost. On the other hand Blackpool and Blackburn Councils are objecting to the imbalance if Preston becomes too attractive a shopping destination at their expense.
So who is right? Probably everybody. You could think should people in Lancashire need to go to Manchester for decent shops? Does it matter if the whole area is second tier rather than having at least one decent place? Will the Tithebarn project deliver this?
Some steps are being taken that give the impression positions are being made. I just looked on the NWDA website and found a job advert for board members to head up Preston Vision a company comprising Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), South Ribble Borough Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
I thought I’d record what this vision team is going to do according to their website, it is;
Preston’s Vision to become one of the top three cities in the North West includes key projects such as:
• Preston Tithebarn – the £700m redevelopment of the City Centre. A major mixed use scheme made up of around 1.5m sq ft of retail, leisure and residential development
• A 21st Century Central Business District
• Proposals to regenerate under utilised waterways and make better use of the river, canal and former docklands
• Green City Spaces – enhancement of city centre parks and spaces
• Improved accessibility of the City Centre
Like all visions it sounds aspirational. Let’s hope it is. I think I’m coming round to it and hope that something that stands the test of time, like the Harris Museum does, can be created and that it incorporates interesting heritage, not a clean slate.
The Harris Museum and Miller Arcades havn’t been remodelled. St Georges / The Mall has, Crystal House has, the Bus Station and Guild Hall are scheduled for change. So two decent buildings have stood the test of time. Several new buildings have looked poor very quickly. Is there at least a bit of a lesson?