The multi-million pound scheme to improve one of the most tired areas of the city centre will begin next week.
Friargate South, Cheapside/Market Place and Orchard Street will see new paving, resurfaced roads and new trees, planting and street furniture under the plans which were delayed due to rising costs.
Phase one of the works will focus on Cheapside and begin on Monday, July 6, with work also starting at one side of Orchard Street. This will take around three months and mean that access through the area will be affected for around 20 weeks, with some temporary road closures and diversions.
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Preston City Council said that businesses in the area have been consulted.
It is not yet clear when work will begin on the strip of Friargate itself running from Ringway to Cheapside outside the St George’s Shopping Centre entrance.
Cllr Valerie Wise, deputy leader and cabinet member for Community Wealth Building and City Regeneration at Preston City Council said: “Upgrades to this part of the city are much needed to bring it line with other parts of the city including Fishergate and Friargate North that have already been modernised and transformed.
“The detailed phasing of the works has been planned with businesses and traders in mind to keep ‘business as usual’ a priority throughout the works and we ask everyone to please bear with us whilst we improve what is a very busy retail and visitor destination in the city.”
Gavin Hulme, managing director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Preston City Council once again to deliver these important improvement works. We recognise that it is a busy and vibrant part of the city, and we will be working alongside the Council to minimise any disruptions.”
The plans were initially unveiled in December 2023 and due to be finished by Spring 2025. However, Preston City Council cited rising material and labour costs as reasons for the project being delayed.
The Friargate South area in particular is in particular need of improvements and is notable for the volume of empty units, many being at St George’s Shopping Centre.
Costa Coffee recently opened a new branch in the former Patisserie Valerie at the entrance of St George’s Shopping Centre.
