An important first step on bringing an abandoned Victorian coach house near Preston into use has been taken.

The Friends of Hurst Grange Park have secured funding to draw up plans for the coach house.

Volunteers have landed a £15,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

They money will be used for establishing how the 1850s building can be restored and redeveloped.

Chairman of the friends group John Fazakerley said: “The building is an important feature of the heritage of Penwortham and we have moved a step closer to giving the Coach House a new lease of life.”

South Ribble Borough Council own the building and it was used as the parks maintenance depot until 1974 but has stood empty since.

Extensive structural repairs, the installation of insulation and heating are needed before it can be brought back into use.

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The Friends group say £15,000 of charity funds have been raised so far towards its restorations.

Any restoration is due to include toilets so the building will be open to the public. Plans are also likely to include removing a 1960s extension which was added, so the coach house can be returned back to is true appearance.

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A brief history of the coach house

It is all that remains of the once extensive buildings called Hurst Grange.

It was built in 1850 by William Hulton, a prominent Preston barrister.

In 1936 the estate was purchased by the borough council to create Hurst Grange Park.

What do you think of the plans? What would you like to see it become? Let us know in the comments below