New student halls to be built in Garstang Road

Artist impression of the new student halls

A huge new block of student flats is to tower over Garstang Road in Preston.

Canterbury Halls would be built alongside the Unicorn pub, in front of where the former B&Q shop is.

Sunglen Properties says the £200m investment by the University of Central Lancashire in its Preston masterplan means it needs more student bed spaces.

The halls would be over five floors and include space for 190 students.

Alongside the bedrooms there would be lounges, study areas, a gym, roof terrace, storage space for bikes and car parking.

David Cox Architects have tabled the plans on behalf of the developers.

In a statement they say: “Last year’s enrolment numbers showed an increase again and this is expected to continue.

“The university has a programme of significant investment on this campus over the next ten years.

“It is therefore reasonable to expect that student numbers will continue to increase and more first year students will need safe, purpose built accommodation. The availability of such accommodation figures highly in students decision of which universities to attend.”

The land is at the junction of Garstang Road Pic: Google

The land where the halls would be built, on the corner of Garstang Road and St George’s Road, used to be a church hall with space for 200 people. The church hall was demolished in 2007. It is across the road from the English Martyrs’ Catholic Church.

Previous planning permission was granted for student halls for 188 bedrooms on the site, but time has now lapsed.

Plans show how five car parking spaces would be part of the halls, for use by the staff. No parking spaces would be available for students.

Full plans for the Canterbury Hall site can be found on the Preston City Council website and comments on the application can be left there.

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