Taylor Wimpey draws up fresh plans for Preston site

Developer Taylor Wimpey is to submit a fresh planning application for the redevelopment of the 147-acre Whittingham Hospital site near Preston in Lancashire. Planning permission had already been in place but the plans will be revised following local consultation. The derelict site, owned by English Partnerships, will be redeveloped with eco-friendly homes, employment space, a site for a new primary school and community/recreation facilities. The new planning application proposes increasing the overall number of homes to 650 in order to raise the number of affordable homes from 50 to 72. More of the historic St Luke’s buildings will be preserved and converted into apartments, while improved sports and leisure facilities are proposed. Gary Halman, partner of Manchester based HOW Planning, lead consultant on the project, said: “This is an exemplar scheme and a real opportunity to enhance the current permission by substituting a masterplan which demonstrates the best principles of urban design and which will secure a new sustainable community for Preston.” The Whittingham Hospital site, on the edge of Goosnargh village, is one of the largest in English Partnerships’ Hospital Sites Programme, which aims to transform 96 former NHS sites in England into sustainable communities. The revised application is expected to be considered around the end of the year. david.quinn@rbi.co.uk