And, while regular city-goers may bemoan the seemingly-constant roadworks and building projects going on these days, rest assured that ‘twas always thus, as demonstrated by these incredible pictures.
I hardly recognise these retro scenes of Preston in various states of ruin and regeneration. They also feature countless buildings now wiped clean from the face of the cityscape.
Take a look and see if you can remember them...
5. Demolished Preston
Rubble left on the pavement from a property on the corner of Birley Street in Preston in 1975 Photo: National World
6. Demolished Preston
One of the slum clearances in 1963, where properties were being demolished in Preston Photo: National World
7. Demolished Preston
It took just three hours for this Preston landmark, known to hundreds of thousands of railway passengers since the 1880s to be knocked down in 1961. It was built as a shelter for the town's old drivers with their horse-drawn vehicles. Later it became a welcome shelter for cabbies. The hut was still in use the night before this demolition work took place Photo: National World
8. Demolished Preston
Not a hard hat in sight as the largest piece of stone to come out of the Thorne Croft Quarries, Longridge, was taken down from the front of the Lancashire Evening Post building in Fishergate, Preston, during the course of alterations in 1958. It was believed to be the biggest single block of stone in any local building Photo: National World