Local centre in Cottam could have pub/hotel, health centre and retirement apartments

An application has been submitted to Preston Council to create a community hub which could also feature shops and food outlets.

Developer Wainhomes has drawn up the plans to provide amenities for the second phase of its major housebuilding programme on farmland off Sandy Lane.

A planning statement to the council says the development would “deliver a much-needed local centre which will support emerging development to the north-west of Preston.”

The scheme is designed to address long-standing concerns that the area does not have the infrastructure to support the huge housing programme currently underway in that part of the city.

The plans show a family pub for up to 180 diners together with hotel accommodation consisting of 46 bedrooms.

Documents show that the local centre would take up land previously approved for housing. So a separate application for 46 new homes on adjacent land has also gone in to compensate for some of those lost.

Wainhomes says its inclusion of retirement apartments “will assist in creating a balanced community.”

The company also says it has been in discussions with Preston Council’s planning department prior to submitting the application and the council was “supportive of Wainhomes’ proposed delivery of a new local centre at the application site.”