Preston will not progress in a competition to determine the home of the Great British Railway Headquarters after losing its bid before the shortlist stage.

The national contest saw over 40 bids from interested towns and cities, with Preston’s led by Lancashire County Council, which submitted an expression of interest earlier this year.

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But the cabinet member for economic development and growth said the announcement ‘won’t derail their regeneration aims’ for the Station Quarter.

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County Councillor Aidy Riggott, the cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: “We think that we submitted a strong bid to bring the Great British Railways Headquarters to Preston, with the aim of offering jobs, investment and other benefits to Lancashire.

“While we didn’t progress to the next stage, we will continue to work hard to showcase the many opportunities the county offers to government departments and private sector investors.

“The work we did in preparing this bid will also help us considerably in our plans for the Station Quarter, and we look forward to bringing these exciting plans forward in the near future.”

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The rail bid connects to work occurring on a draft framework to guide the regeneration and redevelopment of the area around the railway station in Preston city centre.

The Preston Station Quarter Regeneration Framework will help landowners and developers by providing a more joined-up guide to future development.

The framework is jointly created with Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), working with key stakeholders and major landowners in the city.

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It sets out a blueprint for how the city could develop in future to bring jobs and growth.

The aim is to bring offices, new commercial and educational opportunities, and housing.

For more information, visit – https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/organisation-and-partnerships/station

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