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Preston’s new Youth Zone is due to open in Autumn next year – but standing next door will be two abandoned old buildings.
The multi-million pound investment in the city’s young people and future will stand in stark contrast to the former Tithebarn pub and a former warehouse next door.
Standing on the corner of Lord Street and Tithebarn Street the buildings are in a mix of Preston City Council and private ownership.
Read more: Preston Youth Zone to be called ‘Vault’ as city’s young people put spades in the ground
The former pub, which has stood empty for nearly a decade, is owned by the city council.
While 21-23 Lord Street, the former Aladdins Cove warehouse, was subject to a planning application in 2019 by NM Energy – but no work has taken place within the building.
Plans in 2016 were initially lodged to convert the grade-II listed mill building with a ground-floor coffee shop and apartments above.
Read more: Preston Youth Zone work unearths old mill site and items dating back 300 years
Blog Preston approached the city council to ask what was happening with the buildings – as they stand in stark contrast to the ambitions of the Youth Zone next door.
A spokesperson said: “No current plans for the Council-owned site. The Council recognises that something needs to be done with the building/site to address its run-down appearance, particularly following construction of the Youth Zone and the aim will be to ensure that a proposal comes forward which brings the building/site into active use and/or improves the appearance of the area, consistent with the extensive £200m regeneration programme in the Harris Quarter and city centre.”
No enforcement action has been taken about the state of the buildings, although there was a report of unauthorised works taking place at 21-23 Lord Street but the city council said no action was taken and no breach of planning rules had taken place.
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