Tithebarn plan faces further delay
Lancashire cannot afford to let Preston's £700m Tithebarn regeneration scheme fail.
That is the message business leaders have sent to council chiefs in Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool who are threatening to derail the 700m scheme.
Developers from the Preston Tithebarn Partnership (PTP) have warned that there would be significant extra cost and time added to the programme if it is 'called in' to a public inquiry by Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears.
The neighbouring councils have reiterated their intentions to proceed with objections when the application goes before Preston Council's planning committee early next year.
Today, business leaders have leapt to the defence of the scheme insisting there would be spin-offs for the entire county if the Tithebarn vision is realised.
Hugh Evans, policy director of the Fulwood-based North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce which covers Blackpool, said: "Tithebarn should not just be seen as an investment opportunity for Preston alone.
"A thriving and prosperous Preston is vital for Lancashire because it sends out the very strong message that Lancashire is an excellent place in which to do business.
"This is becoming increasingly important when we consider how much investment has gone into Liverpool and Manchester in recent years."
Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration chief Alan Cottam warned Preston it should keep its developments "within its own boundaries" while Blackpool Council, which got support from Preston for its super casino bid last year, said it is still considering its position.
Frank McKenna, chairman of business lobbying group Downtown Preston in Business, said: "Do they really think that people from their towns don't already travel to Preston or the Trafford Centre or Liverpool? I think they need to get in the real world.
"Preston is Lancashire's city, whether Blackpool or Blackburn like it or not, that will provide us with the renaissance that Lancashire desperately needs."
PTP project manager Richard Coppell said it was talking to "all stakeholders and adjoining authorities" as part of talks following the submission of the long-awaited planning application for the scheme last month.
He said: "That is something largely we cannot control all we can do is continue to have discussions with all stakeholders and do everything we can to avoid a call in.
"That would be something which would be particularly to the detriment of the scheme and to the city centre as a whole."
In a report submitted by PTP as part of its application, it said that neither Blackburn or Blackpool would be affected by Tithebarn.
It said: "Based on their current levels of vitality and viability, and planned investment in retail and other facilities, we do not consider either centre is likely to be materially affected by the Preston Tithebarn proposals."
The analysis states Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn together are likely to have some impact on "smaller centres" in the study area.
Jim Carr, chief executive of Preston Council, says both Chorley and Leyland are due to improve their shopping offer in coming years.
He said: "I think over a period of time shopping will change in Lancashire and through the Leyland Forward and Chorley Vision boards they are looking to improve what they have and over the next 15 years the forecast is there will be growth in buying power.
"What I'm saying is our development will take a little of the growth off them but it won't take them off the level they are at now and it won't undermine their positions."
Chris Livesey, vice-chairman of the Chorley Chamber of Trade, said that it was "aware of and monitoring" the plans but was not opposed to them.
South Ribble Council regeneration chief Coun Cliff Hughes said it was "working with, rather than against" Preston to achieve the aims of both areas.
The Tithebarn project, work on which is due to start in 2010 to open by Spring 2014, is expected to bring tens of thousands of extra visitors into Preston every week and pump almost 229m a year into the city's economy.
The Government Office North West, which would lead on any public inquiry, said it was not yet involved in the process and would only get involved if statutory objections from the councils were not resolved or withdrawn.
If that was the case and Preston Council gave the application planning permission, it would be bound to refer it to the GONW which would then pass it to Hazel Blears, who would ultimately decide if it would go to a public inquiry.
If it did, this could add "months" to the timetable for development.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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