Work has now officially started on bringing Preston’s former courts building back into use.
Grade-II listed Amounderness House – which sits next door to the Town Hall and the city’s markets – was last used more than two decades ago.
Work had been due to begin in ‘early 2025’ but was put back after amended proposals for the building were needed, which were approved in late October, and construction firm Eric Wright is now getting started on the £9million project to convert the building into office and co-working space.
Read more: Former Tithebarn pub full demolition decision looms
Work on building which borders Earl Street, Lancaster Road and Birley Street is the cause of a relocation of the city’s outdoor market traders – with the city council saying the area around the building needs to be cordoned off during the works which are due to last until June 2027.
Proposals for the re-use of the former magistrates’ court were first unveiled in 2022 and were costed at £7.4m but an extra £1.6m has already been needed to be pumped in to keep pace with rising material and construction costs on the listed building.
Cabinet member for community wealth building at Labour-run Preston City Council, councillor Valerie Wise, said: “The start of work on site makes our plans to breathe new life into this treasured building a reality. We believe that Amounderness House will play a major role in supporting the growth of innovative local businesses by providing them with a tailor-made city centre hub.”
The former magistrates’ court will include 26 offices and four studio areas as well as meeting and event space operated by Preston-based provider Wrkspace.
The firm already operate co-working and office spaces in Ribbleton Lane, the Old Dock House, Winckley Square and Fulwood along with a number of other sites.
Managing director Rizwan Seth said: “Working alongside Maple Grove Developments and Preston City Council on this landmark scheme reflects our shared commitment to transforming and revitalising city centre spaces.
“The much-anticipated addition of Amounderness House to our successful and established network of seven Wrkspace business centres across Lancashire represents an exciting opportunity to support Preston’s burgeoning corporate community with flexible, high-quality, bespoke workspace.”
Eric Wright Construction and Maple Grove Developments have started this week on an ‘enabling works package’ – which emergency funding was pushed through by the city council’s leader councillor Matthew Brown to kick start with a ‘minor works decision’ – to disconnected services, remove asbestos and start to open up the interior of the building.
Project director at Maple Grove, Nick Hague, said: “With our spades in the ground, MGD is proud to be part of the team bringing forward the restoration and refurbishment of this part of Preston’s history into high quality managed workspace, complementing the wider regeneration of the Harris Quarter.
“Delivery of this managed workspace will play a key role in supporting the further economic growth of central Preston with more opportunities for up-and-coming local businesses.”
Part of the funding for the Amounderness House project has come from the city’s Towns Fund pot, a £21m fund secured in 2021 which has helped with the Animate cinema and leisure complex, the Harris and the city’s Youth Zone.
Chair of Preston Towns Fund board, John Chesworth, said: “On completion, Amounderness House will provide essential state-of-the-art facilities to many of the exciting and progressive start-up and established small businesses that make Preston the commercial capital of Lancashire.”
The building – which dates to 1857 – was the city’s police station before being used as magistrates’ court before the new combined court came into use at Ringway. Blog Preston reported back in 2017 the council had been attempting to sell off the building, but the current Labour administration changed tack and kept hold of the building.
Read more: Pictures show inside Amounderness House ahead of multi-million pound revamp
Last month it was confirmed, with an eye on keeping the costs down, the plans for the building would now see the southern side of the courtyard’s two-storey building, which is not listed, refurbished rather than demolished and rebuilt.
Disgruntled traders nearby
The area around Lancaster Road and Earl Street, running along the side of the market, has restrictions in place as works begin.
The city council said the volume of vehicle movements associated with the market traders under the existing outdoor canopy area meant it was not safe for them to continue to trade near the building site.
Traders have been left disgruntled by the move – and the ice rink which is due to take up the space previously used in the run up to Christmas – which leaves them temporarily split across the Orchard Street and Earl Street covered markets and braving the elements – with many reporting stalls becoming wet and windswept as wild conditions move in during the winter months.
A meeting of the traders called for a waiver of outdoor market rents from the city council for the period until early January when the ice rink is operating. The city council is said to be considering the rent waiver as an option.
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