The demise of Tithebarn
Plans for a major regeneration of Preston city centre were first drawn up in 2002. Preston Tithebarn Partnership, a 50/50 joint venture between Grosvenor and Lend Lease in partnership with Preston city council, proposed something similar to a mini version of Grosvenor’s Liverpool One scheme.
The scheme would have covered a quarter of Preston city centre – some 32 acres – providing 1.2m sq ft of retail, leisure and office space as well as a new market, bus station and open spaces. Both John Lewis and Marks & Spencer signed up for significant anchor stores.
However, the rise of internet shopping coincided with the end of the property boom and, one by one, Tithebarn’s backers withdrew.
At the end of 2011 John Lewis pulled out and Lend Lease decided not to proceed, effectively signalling an end to the plans.
