Eight areas of Preston due for a new look and major changes in next 12 months

Friargate's southern end, between Ringway and the Flag Market, has seen an increasing number of empty units Pic: Blog Preston — The St George’s side of Friargate has become full of empty shops in the last few years Pic: Blog Preston

Parts of Preston are set to look different in the next 12 months as new street scenes, bridges and more take shape.

The last year has seen significant spades in the ground and demolition taking place – not to mention Friargate roadworks finally finishing and the end to drivers being able to go down Corporation Street too as a new bus gate caused chaos.

Here’s a run through of where you will see work taking place in a number of schemes.

Friargate South

After what turned into very long-running roadworks in Friargate North and Ringway, the next section is due to see work start in January.

Known as ‘Friargate South’ the stretch of road is already mainly pedestrianised and runs from the Ringway up to Cheapside and the Flag Market.

The scheme is being expanded to include Orchard Street and Town Hall bosses will be hopeful it helps bring some life back to the clapped out retail scene on the stretch where Wilko’s has shut and the St George’s Shopping Centre has a raft of empty units facing into Friargate. Boarded up shops and broken windows characterise what used to be a bustling area aligned with one of the city’s main retail destinations.

Illuminate and Integrate – side streets near the Town Hall

Initially focused on Old Vicarage where work is already underway, the street which runs down the side of the Black-a-Moor Head pub between the Market and the Bus Station, these roads are due to get more usage when the Animate cinema re-opens.

How Old Vicarage will look when work is finished Pic: Preston City Council

It will then stretch onto the Flag Market and other roads around the Town Hall and Markets area.

With new lighting, paving improvements and more it’s aimed at helping the ‘look and feel’ of side streets in the city centre.

The new Youth Zone is also taking shape just a street along from Old Vicarage – bordering Lord Street and Crooked Lane which will become increasingly used thoroughfares.

Queen Street and Avenham Lane

Away from the Town Hall area of the city centre and there’s currently a consultation taking place on new cycle lane and walking routes along Queen Street and then continuing into Avenham Lane.

How the new shared cycle and pedestrian lane would look in Queen Street Pic: Preston City Council

If given the go-ahead what is due to be known as the ‘east-west’ cycle route would provide a better way for cyclists moving from the London Road area towards Avenham Park.

Old Tram Bridge

Another section of the push for cycle routes in the city is the new Tram Bridge crossing.

Out of action since 2019 when it was declared unsafe the old bridge was demolished and work has begun on a replacement.

CGI of the replacement for the Old Tram Bridge — How the new bridge will look Pic: Preston City Council/Studio John Bridge

Work has paused over the winter, having already been dealt a number of setbacks due to the weather, but is due to begin again in the Spring before the bridge is due to be back in action later in 2025. It re-connects the Old Tram Road into Avenham Park.

Animate Cinema area

The new cinema and leisure complex will open in the Spring but it’s also meant a big change to the road network around the Lancaster Road and Bishopsgate area.

There will be an entrance to an underground car park and the underpass from Tenterfield Street should also re-open.

You will be able to walk along the side of the Market Hall again as Animate is finished Pic: Carl Stein

Work has been happening at the Ormskirk Road and Tithebarn Street junction as a result too.

Plus the ginnel between the Markets and Ringway is already back open too.

The Harris

As well as the Harris opening up its doors during the Springtime, it means the hoardings will be pulled down which run in Jacson Street, Harris Street and Lancaster Road at present.

While none of the streets have been closed – apart from very short-term temporary closures on occasions – it means that side of the Flag Market will feel different from April/May onwards with the museum back open and contractors off site.

New Hall Lane

A new stretch of bus lane is planned – not a bus gate – along the stretch going towards the Mercer Street turn in New Hall Lane.

There’s no exact timescale yet but the short bus lane has drawn criticism from councillors in the Fishwick area.

We’ll also see St Mary’s Street re-open to traffic in the early part of 2025 as major electricity upgrade works are completed.

Victoria Street closure lifted

The University of Central Lancashire’s new vet school will be finished in the early part of 2025 and a road closure in place for more than two years will lift.

Victoria Street has been shut off between Adelphi Street and Moor Lane.

With the Corporation Street bus gate then going up Brook Street to then get across to Moor Lane after going round the back of Maudland could become swifter.

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