The former Preston to Longridge line would be re-opened under the alternative Garden City plans

An ambitious plan entered in a housing competition would see two Garden Cities created to the West and East of Preston.

Entered into the Wolfson Economics Prize 2014 the Social Cities plan uses the Freiburg garden city model as its basis, and argues Preston should be one of three areas to receive a new city, alongside Rugby and Kent, and see swathes of new housing created.

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Planners behind the document reveal their vision for a County Palatine of Lancashire, with two brand new cities.

It runs opposite to the current Garden City plan from Preston City Council which proposes building 5,500 homes in the North West of Preston, ahead of major new roads being built in the area as part of the City Deal investment.

Map showing where the two proposed new cities would be built

The first of the cities is the Fylde Garden City which would be created around Kirkham and Wesham.

Planners propose the tram line from Blackpool is extended south through Lytham before joining the new Fylde city around Warton.

Warton would be swallowed up by the new city

A second new city would be built out between Preston and Longridge, swallowing Grimsargh and Whittingham.

As part of the new city the Deepdale to Longridge line would be re-opened with a high speed express serveice connecting to the West Coast Main Line.

The red line shows the re-opened railway. The new city would include the Whittingham development at the former mental hospital.

The Garden Cities plan was part of a competition asking leading economists and housing experts to submit plans in response to the UK’s housing situation – with a severe lack of new homes across the country.

The Palatine of Lancashire plan would take 14 years to build from 2018 to 2032, but rely on the electrification of the West Coast main line for high speed rail.

View the full plan below or click here to download a PDF version if you’re using our app.

Garden Cities plan for two new cities near Preston

It was not selected as one of the five plans which go through to the next stage in the Wolfson competition to compete for a £250,000 prize but they do offer an alternative glimpse of how the Preston area could develop.