PROJECT UPDATE: Preston's first loft-style living appartments on Guildhall Street

Loft living ambitions remain on track with works due to start.

What is the project?

Plans to create Preston’s first loft-style apartments in a vacant Victorian warehouse on Guildhall Street were first unveiled back in 2016. The £2.5m regeneration project would include retail units - aimed at restaurant or cafe use - at ground floor level with just shy of 20 luxury living units above.

Why was it viewed as an important development?

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It has been seen as a boost to Preston’s city living ambitions and it has been followed by several high profile luxury living facilities springing up around the Winckley Square area. It fitted in with authority bosses and developers’ ambitions to re-create a style of accommodation more associated with Manchester and Liverpool. The ambitious proposals, which would see the former carriage works brought back into use, received planning approval in February last year.

What has happened since?

Well, since it was given the green light by the town hall, not much. No construction works of note took place for the remainder of the year and the plans seem to have fallen below the City Living radar with other developments, such as the plans to convert the Red Rose and Elizabeth Houses at Preston Office Centre stealing the limelight.

What is the update?

Etc Urban Developments, the firm behind the conversion bid, has asked for permission from the town hall to tweak some of the plans with a view of getting construction works underway in the next few months. Director Neil Thornton said: “It’s still on track, the latest plans are just modifications relating to materials and some of the layouts of the apartments. For the last few months we have been getting everything in place. All the apartments will be for public sale.”