The smallest conservation area in Preston is to be kept.

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St Igantius Square, which sits between North Road and Meadow Street, is just over one and a half hectares.

Contained within it is the grade-II listed St Ignatius Church, now a cathedral, and the majority of the buildings date from the mid-19th century.

The square is an early example of a formal square with a church in the middle bordered by housing. It was one of the early parts of Preston to expand outside of the city centre and its style was copied at a number of other locations in the city.

Designed by JJ Scoles the church became the city’s first cathedral when it was awarded the status for its Kerala Catholic congregation.

The city council has updated its assessment of the conversation area – as the existing one is nearly ten years old.

Read more: Deepdale Enclosure conservation area to be kept

Historic England made no comments about the conservation area and its special protection is to continue. This limits what can be built in the area and how the buildings can be modified or what they can be used for.

Preston City Council’s cabinet is meeting on Wednesday (8 March) to discuss the conservation area.

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