Major plans are being prepared for a large new block of student flats in Preston city centre.

Kingswood Properties have commissioned PWA Planning to work up plans for a new 20-storey building.

It would see the current Foresters’ Hall of student accommodation demolished in Great Shaw Street.

In its place would be the new building with 305 student flats as well as a cinema room, study area, gym, roof garden and car parking.

At this stage PWA Planning have put in a ‘screening opinion’ to the city council – and not full plans for the site.

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A spokeswoman for the city council said: “It’s not an application for development. It’s basically a procedure a prospective applicant can follow to find out if, when they do submit a planning application, that planning application is of such a scale/sensitivity that it should be accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

“An Environmental Statement is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts of a development, sort of an added layer of interrogation.”

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Daniel Hughes from PWA Planning said: “Our client intends to bring forward an exciting student accommodation development in Preston in the near future.

“We’re working with our client to ensure the planning and consultation process is as thorough as possible and we’ve asked the planning authority whether an Environmental Statement for the proposed scheme is required. More details about the proposed development will be revealed in due course.”

What do you think about the proposal for Great Shaw Street? Let us know in the comments below