Boost for budding city entrepreneurs

Shipping containers will act as office pods for upcoming entrepreneurs.

Owners of Cotton Court business centre plan to place 16 shipping containers on its car park, acting as cost-effective office pods for upcoming entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.The planning application to Preston City Council in August was approved earlier this week.

Cotton Court’s director, Robert Binns, said: “Here at Cotton Court we are all really excited to hear that the plans have been approved.

“We believe that the new Cotton Pods will allow us to continue creating inspiring, contemporary work spaces that have all the infrastructure and support services that a business needs, included in one affordable package.

Computer generated image of what the development will look like.

“We have had some truly amazing companies start out at Cotton Court and this additional capacity will allow us to continue to be a key component to creating yet more business success stories for Lancashire.”

Leader of Preston City Council, coun Peter Rankin, said: “It’s great to see a well-established Preston business like Cotton Court investing in the city and providing opportunities for up and coming entrepreneurs to get a head start.

“We wish anyone starting out in business in Preston every success.”

The pods have been created by designers from the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) in Preston and will be built out of 20-foot containers stacked over two levels.