Shipping container food venue planned for uni quarter

A state-of-the-art two-storey building made from recycled shipping containers is planned for a piece of land at the heart of the UCLan campus in Moor Lane.

The scheme is the latest hospitality idea to boost the university quarter which is now being seen as the new “go-to” area of the city as redevelopment continues at pace.

Only last week a bar owner announces plans to open a micropub at the UCLan end of Friargate to tap into the work being done on the new University Square.

Now Recall Properties, which owns a row of shops just around the corner in Moor Lane, is looking to build the futuristic container venue to house eateries on a parcel of grass verge near to student accommodation blocks.

“This development proposes a unique opportunity to widen the range of food and drink services in Preston, particularly benefiting the vibrant student population within the immediate area, whilst encouraging an environmentally sustainable development on a vacant and underutilised parcel of land,” says a report submitted to the council.

Planners say they want to create a “unique and inviting eating space with functional seating areas for users of the proposed eateries.”

It will have a rooftop terrace with tensile fabric canopies above “high quality, modern shipping container style” food and drink outlets.

If approved it will be the latest project in the city to use upcycled shipping containers for business purposes.