Housing plan to boost Preston's rental market

A recently cleared site close to Ribbleton Park is set for redevelopment to boost Preston’s stock of affordable housing rental properties.

The Community Gateway Association (CGA) has submitted design plans to the town hall for land adjacent to Thompson Street and Shakespeare Road.

Several blocks of flats which previously occupied the brownfield site have been recently demolished with the developers fearing the location could attract anti-social behaviour if left vacant for an extended period.

In their place will be 10 three-bedroom properties “available for affordable rent.”

The layout includes 20 car parking spaces with some of the properties served by a new access road off Thompson Street.

According to the design plans submitted to the town hall, the proposals attracted a 100 per cent approval rate from neighbours as part of a CGA consultation although “the turnout was lower than expected.”

The location is within the boundaries of the Inner East Preston Neighbourhood Plan which outlines regeneration priorities in Fishwick and St Matthew’s wards.

Planning documents state: “The development will provide much needed affordable housing to the inner east area of Preston.

“The proposal regenerates a site that could fall victim of neglect, pollution and vandalism. (It) will also be a step towards reducing the housing shortage in this area by supplying desirable, high quality housing.”

The plans are likely to go before the city council’s planning committee in the early part of 2018.