New build mixed use development in central Preston

In 2004 Cassidy and Ashton were appointed by the Brookhouse Group of Manchester to provide architectural services in relation to a new build mixed use development in central Preston. Designs have evolved over a number a years to suit the changing commercial environment.

In 2008 - 2009, Cassidy and Ashton worked closely with The Brookhouse Group in the preparation and submission of a revised outline planning application for the development of a food store, hotel, a multi-storey car park and ancillary non food retail, restaurant and bar use. The application was supported by a comprehensive Design and Access Statement formulated through an extensive design process which included detailed consultations with Preston City Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) over a number of years.

The consultations recognised that the site provides a significant opportunity to improve the quality of the local area through a high quality retail led urban regeneration scheme. The designs will successfully integrate the development with its surroundings and help create an active urban quarter that will make a positive contribution to the City Centre.

An Urban Design Quality Assessment of the Outline Planning Application Scheme was commissioned independently using the appraisal pro-forma templates contained within The NWDA/RENEW Northwest Economic Value of Urban Design Final Report May 2007 methodology for assessing ‘urban design quality’ of a place or development. The scoring indicated that the design met expectations to an acceptable level in every design theme reviewed.

The Outline Planning Application was approved by Preston City Council in September 2010.