Plans go in for the £300k transformation of Warton Village Centre inc a new BAE inspired commemorative wall

Plans have gone in for a swanky new village centre on the outskirts of Preston.

Earlier this month, Fylde Council received a planning application for the revamp of Warton Village Centre, on land south of the Warton Scout and Guide Headquarters on Lytham Road.

In particular, permission was sought for “Public realm enhancement works including: 1) demolition of the existing book exchange building, 2) creation of a village square and event space including reconfiguration of existing car park, installation of new paving, seating, bollards, lighting, walls, public art, footpaths, rain gardens and landscaping.”

Plan drawings show the current book exchange building will no longer exist, in its place will be a new Events Square, linked to Lytham Road by a new walkway lined by new seats and trees.

The Design and Access Statement says that the removal of the existing book exchange building enables the delivery of a new accessible public space

The planning agent explains that whilst the community-led initiative is “valuable in concept, the building constrains pedestrian movement and limits the creation of a coherent, accessible village space. Its removal will enable a more open and flexible layout that better accommodates public events, pedestrian circulation, seating, and landscape treatment.”

The new square will feature mobile planters, rain gardens, bollards, cycle stands and all along one side is a new 2.4 metre high brick wall to enclose the square and the existing Foodie Fusion Site.

This wall is to be decorated with images celebrating the relationship of Warton with BAE Systems, which the agent says has “played a defining role in Warton’s identity, economy, and urban form”.

The commemorative wall art will include a chronological display of aircraft developed or tested at Warton, including the English Electric Canberra, Lightning, SEPECAT Jaguar, Panavia Tornado, and Eurofighter Typhoo, in silhouette form made with durable, weather-resistant laser-cut steel panels inset or fixed to the brick wall.

The agent writes: “The commemorative feature will transform a functional boundary wall into a meaningful civic landmark, strengthening community pride and providing a unique sense of place within the new square.”

The existing car park will also be reconfigured to ensure parking bays achieve standard bay widths (2.5 m) and minimum reversing distances (6.0 m) in accordance with Manual for Streets and Fylde Borough Council parking design guidance

The application comes after Fylde Council approved a £300,000 transformation scheme for the village centre back in February.

The above development forms phase 2 of the enhancement project, following the completion of a children’s play area in 2023 as part of phase one, and sits within the council’s wider regeneration framework, which identifies Warton as a priority for public realm improvements.

Funding has been secured through developer contributions, a £30,000 Lancashire Environmental Fund grant and parish council support, with the authority saying the project will not require additional funding from Fylde taxpayers.

Fylde Council has worked with Bryning with Warton Parish Council to deliver the scheme.

The planning application was validated on April 8 and the consultation period ends on May 6.

You can read the full application and find out how to comment on it on the Fylde Council website.