The first building as part of Preston’s university building around the Adelphi roundabout has seen plans lodged.
AdvertisementEngineers of the future are due to be trained in a five-storey building which is to tower over the new Adelphi Square.
Costing £30million the Engineering Innovation Centre is to be built on the current Foster building car park. If plans are approved it would be open by summer 2018.
Spread over 6,900 square metres it replaces the current Wharf building – which is due to be demolished and left as green space.
In documents submitted to Preston City Council, SimpsonHaugh and partners, compare the creation of the new heart of the University of Central Lancashire’s campus to Trafalgar Square in London.
Related: Watch a fly-through of the university’s new campus masterplan
They write: “The scale of New Square must be considered, so that it feels comfortable for people to engage with. To help visualise the scale of New Square, comparisons have been made in the Masterplan comparing the new square with existing open spaces in Preston; Market Square and Preston Bus Station, as well as Granary Square in London.
“Another comparison to help understand the scale can be made with Trafalgar Square in London. With the right approach to landscaping and the surrounding buildings this will be a fantastic heart to the campus and a new landmark for the city.”
The engineering building is due to be glazed allowing anyone walking along the Adelphi roundabout to see what’s happening within the building.
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It’s spire is a focal point for Preston, seen from miles around. The Adelphi roundabout currently has views to the spire – the tallest of any church in England – and this would be maintained.
Part of the university plans deal with the impact on seeing the church spire from the roundabout.
It shows how the view from Walker Street as you approach the current roundabout would change, with St Walburge’s still just about visible to the right hand side of the new engineering centre.
The report states: “Despite the presence of the Church of St Walburge within these views, the viewing place does not best represent the heritage values of the heritage asset. We have assessed the effect of the agreed viewpoint in accordance with Historic England’s Seeing the History in the View guidance. As a locally valued view, the combined value and importance of the heritage asset and the view as a whole is low.”
Full plans are available to view on the city council website.
Anyone wishing to comment can do so there or by emailing devcon@preston.gov.uk quoting reference 06/2016/0250 by Saturday 30 April.
What do you think of the engineering centre? And the work happening around the Adelphi roundabout? Let us know your views in the comments below