A shopping centre between Preston Bus Station and the city’s Market Hall is set for a multi-million pound revamp.
St John’s Shopping Centre is to see major investment and changes in the years ahead.
Developer Praxis is intending to submit a planning application in August to put in more than 500 apartments along with new ground floor commercial spaces for retail, food and beverage or leisure.
Read more: Price of parking at Preston Bus Station to rise for first time in nine years
A new health centre is also being proposed within the shopping centre as well as new public realm improvements – such as new pavements and greener spaces.
The developers, who say the plans are also known as ‘Tithebarn Gateway’, is directly in response to increase public-sector investment in the nearby Animate cinema and leisure complex as well as street works in and around the Bus Station and Markets.
St John’s has seen an increasing number of empty units in recent years – although a new café is due to open on the Lancaster Road side.
Praxis director Ilan Goldman said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine one of Preston’s most prominent gateways as a bold and contemporary new city neighbourhood. We’re excited to deliver a development that reflects the city’s ambition and unlocks the full potential of this key site.”
Two public consultation events are being held later this week for people to find out more about the St John’s proposals – and are held by Lambert Smith Hampton who are working on the proposals.
These are being held at Retail Unit 17 in the St John’s Shopping Centre from 10am to 2pm on Friday (18 July) and Saturday (19 July).
Director of planning, regeneration and infrastructure at Lambert Smith Hampton, Paul Shuker, said: The regeneration proposal at St Johns present an exciting new chapter in Preston’s future growth trajectory. The project will revitalise and reanimating this important part of the city centre into a vibrant and relevant neighbourhood that will reconnect the Harris Quarter to the listed bus station in the western part of the city centre.”
Praxis say they would hope to start work in early 2026 if plans are approved.
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