Three of the redevelopment schemes in Preston – two have plans lodged and the other is approved

The last year has seen a flurry of activity in revamping some of Preston’s listed buildings.

Many have stood empty for decades, running into disrepair but now there appears to be a move from developers to turn them into new uses.

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Across the city centre there are tens of listed buildings currently standing vacant.

Here’s some of the proposals we’ve seen either been lodged or seen work starting during the past 12 months.

Guildhall Street warehouse

What used to be a yeast warehouse, and then a carpet shop, is described by developers as becoming ‘loft living’.

More than £2.5million is being spent by Etc Urban Developments to have 17 apartments with a restaurant at its base.

Former yeast warehouse in Preston city centre to become trendy flats

Victorian printworks

Standing forlon in Glover’s Court opposite cocktail bars and near the Wellington, this former printing press received emergency funding for an office conversion.

We’ve yet to see work start but there’s £300k of heritage lottery funding being ploughed into the building

Victorian printworks in Glovers Court to get emergency heritage work

Former Booths offices

Some Prestonians will remember when the supermarket chain was headquartered in the city centre, and there was a tea room too.

Now developers want to convert it into upmarket flats but heritage fans have other ideas – saying it is an important building

Preston Bus Station

Preston Bus Station is now operated and owned by Lancashire County Council Pic: Paul Melling

Doesn’t date from Victorian times but it is still grade II listed.

Work has already started on the Western side of the bus station and on repairing the crumbling concrete for the car park ramps.

Plans have now gone in for the Preston Youth Zone on the western side and the latest plans for the stands on the eastern side have also gone in. Lancashire County Council is spending £23million on the building.

Read more: From the depressing embers of Tithebarn we now feel like a city going somewhere

Preston Markets

The city’s market canopies are being restored Pic: Richard Swan

The historic market canopy is being restored as part of the wider Markets scheme, which includes demolishing the current Indoor Market and car park to make way for a cinema and restaurant complex.

Canopies on the Fish Market have already been restored and work is ongoing on the Outdoor Market.

The Outdoor Market is to have a glazed centre installed with permanent outdoor stalls.

Park Hotel

Overlooking Miller Park this empty hotel is an iconic part of Preston’s skyline and is coming back into use.

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The grade-II hotel plans include demolishing the office block next to it and also adding a pavilion extension on the side of the hotel.

Here’s how the Park hotel could look after major revamp

Lord Street

What used to be a warehouse dating back to the Victorian era has stood empty for more than a decade.

Plans have gone in for it to become a coffee shop on the ground floor with flats above it. We have seen plans for this building before but they never happened.

Former Preston city centre mill could become coffee shop and flats

Old Post Office

Facing into the Flag Market this building is a hobby horse of the council leader Peter Rankin. He penned a piece for us back in 2011 outlining his desperation to get the building back into use.

Best of Britannia North held exhibitions here and it caught the eye of Signature Living, a luxury hotel firm.

They’ve seen plans approved to convert it into a 60-bed hotel and restaurant, and it’ll do weddings. Expect it to be very swanky inside.

Old Post Office hotel plans face objections from heritage group

St Joseph’s Orphanage

One of the biggest talking points in Preston, what will happen to this place?

It’s creepy, run down and in a prime position for redevelopment. Preston City Council has taken the step of asking architects to draw up plans for the building.

St Joseph’s Orphanage has architects commissioned to draw up plans

What do you think of the redevelopment happening in the city? Let us know in the comments below