Preston City Council has lodged proposals to redevelop the former magistrates court in the city centre into a flexible workspace, including some retail space.
The building, known as Amounderness House, will undergo a £7.4m refurbishment, which will include the repair of the existing building, retaining the historic building fabric wherever possible while creating a space suitable for modern use.
Plans, designed by Frank Whittle Partnership, will see the creation of 26 offices of 645 sq ft each alongside four craft or retail studios. In addition, the existing courtyard will be updated and opened for public use.
John Chesworth, chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Strategic Board, said: “The scheme will provide much-needed office accommodation in the city and contribute to the growth of Preston’s economy.”
Amounderness House is one of six projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, for which the city was awarded £20.9m from the government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021.
Maple Grove Developments is working with Preston City Council and W_rkspace as project and development manager via the Lancashire Regeneration Property Partnership to deliver the scheme. The project team for Amounderness House also includes Cowburn-Watson Box, SCP Transport, Eden Heritage, E3P, TRP Consulting and Graham Schofield Associates.
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