Proposals for the transformation of the Grade II listed former magistrates’ court in Preston have been given the go-ahead by the city council.
Amounderness House will undergo a £7.4m refurbishment designed by architectural firm FWP.
The redevelopment will see the premises, originally built in 1857 as a police station with several holding cells, turned into 26 offices of 645 sq ft each and four craft or retail studios. Upon completion, it will be operated by North West-based office provider Wrkspace.
In addition, the existing courtyard will be updated and open for public use.
The project is one of six 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 the council to deliver the project.
Nik Puttnam, senior development manager at Maple Grove, said: “Renovating listed buildings comes with its challenges, especially one that has been vacant for so long, but when completed it will complement other projects in the Harris Quarter and be an economic driver for the city centre.”
To send feedback, e-mail evelina.grecenko@eg.co.uk or tweet @Gre_Eve or @EGPropertyNews
