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Preston’s £434m cash injection
A number of future-facing investment schemes have been announced in recent years which are aimed at expanding Preston’s infrastructure and residential offering.
Signed in 2013, the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal has been described as “a landmark agreement” by Preston City Council. The Infrastructure Delivery Programme and Investment Fund totals £434m of new investment and aims to stimulate new development opportunities in the city, delivering 17,420 new homes to the residential market, and creating more than 20,000 jobs.
The scheme will also better connect the city through the enhancement of local transport links, with a focus on four road schemes, helping to support future business.
It’s anticipated that the City Deal will grow the local economy by £1bn over the next decade.
Preston’s location is a key driver of success
Located centrally in the North West, the city has easy access to all the major northern roadways, including the M6, M61, M65 and the M55, opening up travel throughout the UK for residents and those looking to do business.
Preston is also well-served by rail, situated on the West Coast mainline. This puts it within easy reach of the UK’s most well-known cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London. While the city’s proximity to both Manchester and Liverpool is of particular benefit, as Preston is commutable to either.
By car
- Manchester - 38 mins
- Liverpool - 1 hour
- Lake District - 45 mins
- Peak District - 20 mins
By train
- Manchester - 40 mins
- Liverpool - 40 mins
- Birmingham - 1hr 35 mins
- London - 2hr 20 mins
A growing reputation for learning
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), a renowned centre for education and research, is central to Preston’s community and one of the city’s largest employers.
The UCLAN Masterplan is a £200m investment scheme that will transform UCLAN’s campus into a world-class education facility. Plans for a fully-integrated city centre campus will enhance the learning experience for current and future students and staff, and contribute to the city’s reputation as a place to live, study and visit.
One of the biggest drivers of growth to come out of the UCLAN Masterplan is the £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), which opened its doors in October 2019. The EIC is a cutting-edge facility which will help to teach and nurture the UK’s next generation of engineers, right in the heart of Lancashire.
The facility benefits from state-of-the-art research laboratories, giving students first-hand experience and skills. By developing this kind of talent in the city, Preston has attracted some of the biggest names in aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing—driving economic growth and a reputation for engineering excellence for generations to come.
Preston Culture
Preston has big plans for the future, with a number of schemes in the pipeline that will continue to raise the city’s status as a destination for culture. The Markets Quarter is the focal point of a visionary £50m project build a brand new market hall and restore two Grade 2 Listed Victorian canopies.
One of the largest and hotly-anticipated regeneration schemes in Preston, the Stoneygate Masterplan aims to create a new ‘urban village’ on the eastern fringe of the city centre, transforming several key districts into a trendy destination to live, work and play.
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