A sprawling former day centre has been sold to make way for a commercial development.
Lancashire County Council has sold the 1.5 acre former Deepdale Day Centre on Sir Tom Finney Way for an undisclosed sum.
The company which has bought the property said it did not want to go public with their visions for the site until the deal was fully complete.
But the site was sold with a vision for a number of uses including retail, a restaurant and cafe, or a pub and hotel.
Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “The former Deepdale Day Centre is currently surplus to the county council’s requirements.
“The premises were marketed for sale during the second half of last year and a number of offers were received.
“The county council has now agreed a sale and we are currently working to formalise it.
“It is anticipated the property will be redeveloped for commercial uses.”
The sale of the site, which is made up of two buildings built in the 1950s, was formally given the go-ahead at a meeting of the authority’s cabinet last week.
The centre has been standing empty for more than four years after Lancashire County Council moved services to new more modern facilities.
The building had become a target for vandals since it closed and last year steps were taken to make it more secure.
Coun Terry Cartwright, who represents the Deepdale ward on Preston Council, called for action to be taken on the site last year, saying it had been left in a state of disrepair since services moved out in 2008, with rain damage to walls and floors.
He said: “It is like a lot of buildings in the city in that it has been allowed to become dilapidated over the years.
“We need a positive use of the site, but I don’t understand why Lancashire County Council closed it down in the first place.
“That is very regrettable. It was a very well used service.
“It was very nice inside with a wonderful kitchen and the front part of the building was quite nice to look at.
“It would have been perfect for more of a community use. It is an example of another building shut down and sold off, but I am glad it won’t be empty.”
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