Artist impression of how the Vue Cinema may look at the Fishergate complex

The future of a major revamp of a shopping centre in Preston hangs in the balance – after plans for it were withdrawn.

Preston City Council has confirmed the £40m plan for the Fishergate Shopping Centre, which would include a cinema and restaurant complex, are no longer on a planning committee agenda.

The shopping centre plans had been due to be heard on Thursday afternoon (April 28).

Vue Cinema released a statement on Tuesday morning (April 26) saying it would be staying at the Capitol Centre. It had been due to anchor the Fishergate development.

A spokeswoman for Vue said: “Vue cinema has been located in the city’s Capitol Centre for the last 20 years and is a well-known, popular destination for film fans in the local community and beyond.

“Vue is looking forward to continuing to operate within the centre providing the best in big screen entertainment for the foreseeable future.”

An hour later and the city council confirmed they had been notified the Fishergate cinema plan had been withdrawn. It had been recommended for rejection.

Overhead shot of the refurbished covered market at night, with the cinema building behind

Muse Developments, who are overseeing the city council’s Preston Markets revamp – which includes an 11-screen cinema and restaurant complex – tabled plans for the Markets on Tuesday (April 26).

Fishergate Shopping Centre manager Keith Mitchell said: “I am extremely disappointed Preston’s planning department has recommended turning down our plans. We have spent a considerable amount of time in developing a really good scheme which offered a lot to shoppers and the wider city economy.

“The response we received from both the public and the business community has been hugely positive and supportive.

“Contrary to our hopes, neither Preston City Council nor Lancashire County Council saw fit to fully support the scheme at this time, which we find very disappointing and, given the long overdue need for major investment in Preston, very surprising.

“We do, however, wish to continue negotiations with all parties and would like to resolve any outstanding issues in the very near future.”

What do you make of the decision? Let us know in the comments below