Former Preston Catholic College sees plans lodged for 36 apartments

Archive picture of Preston Catholic College

There are plans to redevelop parts of the former Preston Catholic College into 36 apartments in the city centre.

The proposal situated at the rear of 33 and 34 Winckley Square, seeks to develop a five to seven storey complex, consisting of 36 contemporary apartments ranging from one two bedrooms.

Plans include demolishing the existing two storey canteen and office storage building and the footbridge link.

The former college was a Jesuit grammar school for boys in Winckley Square. It opened in 1865 and was closed down in 1978, when its sixth form merged with two other schools to form Cardinal Newman College.

The demolition of the two-storey building which housed the former sixth form centre is said to be less substantial.

The existing bridge link across to rear 33/34 Winckley Square Pic: Planning documents

As converting to residential use would be a difficult task, due to the narrow build and may cause more harm to the appearance of the Winckley Conservation Area.

The site sits at the upper end of the sloping Mount Street, south of Preston’s main Shopping High Street – Fishergate, providing access to local amenities, shops and Preston Railway Station within a short walking distance.

The site is bound by a number of buildings with multiple storeys including the St. Joseph’s Orphange project which is currently under construction.

Indicative view from Mount Street facing North

If plans are approved, each apartment would have access to a lower ground floor gym, an upper floor co-working space with adjoining roof garden, and cycle storage space.

Several of the upper floor apartments would have a roof terrace or balcony.

Mount Street provides vehicle access into the site, directly leading to the modified shared courtyard, where there will be five car parking spaces for the new development.

On behalf of the applicant, Joshua Senior, of Branco Winckley Square, architect John Bridge said: “Natural daylight and living space have been considered hand in have to create welcome living space to the site.

“Apartments benefit from modern open plan living spaces and plenty of naturally ventilating windows, which also provide excellent views in all directions to the urban setting.”