The new Youth Zone has now been planned to be built opposite Preston Bus Station on Lord Street.
AdvertisementThe Youth Zone has been in the running for a while and will include an all-weather sports facility, dance studio and recreation area.
Preston will receive £20.9 million under the government’s Town’s Fund which will go towards the project.
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A spokesperson for Preston Partnership said: “Now that Towns Fund money has been secured, we’re in the process of drawing up more detailed plans for the projects being funded, including the Youth Zone.
“A site on Lord Street, opposite the bus station, has been identified for the Youth Zone. We will be able to confirm more details about this project, and the work that will be required to deliver it, when we come to make a planning application.”
Preston has a total of nine projects in the Harris Quarter which will cost £25m but now plans will be reviewed to match the money that Preston will receive.
Although this area of land was previously earmarked for a new healthcare centre.
However, this now appears to have been shelved at that location despite the council having received £70,000 for scoping out the new health hub – which may move to a different locations.
Plans included around three or four GP practices sharing the new building along with an outpatients service relocated from Royal Preston Hospital.
Around 100,000 patients would be able to be treated at the hub, which would be part of a network of three or four across Central Lancashire as well as creating 160 jobs and being open seven days a week.
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Preston Partnership has said that the next step for the Youth Zone is pulling together a detailed business plan and planning application.
Guy Topping, who was involved in the campaign for the original Preston Youth Zone said: “I am delighted that we now have a new way forward which has so much promise. There are still some big hurdles to jump but at least we are up and running again.
“The need for a Youth Zone in Preston only increases and it would be wonderful to finally deliver a facility of this class to the local young people.
“Fingers crossed for third time lucky.”
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