The full plans to demolish the former Tithebarn pub will be back before councillors once again.
In the summer proposals for a partial demolition of the building were approved by planning committee of Preston City Council in July after an eleventh hour reprieve from the city’s ruling Labour group.
But earlier this month updated structural reports emerged which led to a change in the pub’s future and the full demolition of the pub went back on the table – leading to an angry response from heritage campaigners who had called for the building to be saved.
The building, at 27 Lord Street, has fallen into disrepair in recent years despite being owned by the city council for the best part of a decade.
Councillors on the planning committee must make the decision due to the ‘public interest in the site’ and it being a ‘council owned asset’.
Reasons for demolishing the former pub which last pulled a pint in 2016 include the ‘deteriorating condition of the building is a concern and public safety surrounding it will be of primary concern when the Youth Zone opens in Autumn 2025, as it is located directly next to the building.”
Council officers go on to state about the new surveys: “a further structural survey was commissioned in August 2025 focussing solely on the stability and safety of the main pub building.
“The report confirmed that the slender walls of the building together with the effects of roof spread, water ingress and flimsy internal timber stud walls combine to form a building which is unstable and unsafe, further noting that the external walls of the building have distorted an unacceptable amount.
“The report concludes by stating that any aims to try and retain the pub building would not be acceptable in its current state given that any remedial work to the pub would put people at risk given its current state.
“The report ends with the recommendation that the barn and pub should be fully demolished, and any further delay should not be allowed to overcome the overriding consideration of safety.”
A heritage statement included in the report states planners feel the ‘contribution to the setting of the buildings from the public house is relatively low’ as it sits close to the grade-II listed Preston Bus Station and next door to the former Aladdin’s Cave warehouse mill building which is also grade-II listed and currently empty.
Overall officers state they feel the risk of the building remaining standing outweighs any harm to the area from its demolition.
Councillors are being recommended to approve the full demolition of the former Tithebarn pub at the next meeting of planning committee on Thursday 6 November at the Town Hall.
Support Blog Preston: Keep our community reporting going and view the website without any adverts too. Sign up for a membership today.
Stay updated: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox. Help us report too, by contacting us if you see something we should be reporting on.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
