Plans to build 24 flats on the site of the former Star Youth Centre have been submitted to Preston City Council.

The proposal in 34 Tulketh Crescent, seeks to demolish the existing youth club building to construct 12 one-bed flats, 11 two-bed flats and a one two-bedroom townhouse with car parking and vehicular access off Francis Street.

This current scheme has been amended after plans submitted by Philip Oram in August 2022 for the build of 16 apartments and eight homes were withdrawn in December 2022.

The site lies on the former site of Tulketh Hall, dating back to the 14th century, it was once a prime defensive and docking point on The River Ribble.

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Ashton-on-Ribble residents and the Friends of Tulketh Hall group remained steadfast in the past few years to stop the sale of the Star Youth Centre due to its historical importance.

The youth club which included specialist family and well-being services for young children and disabled teens closed in 2020 and the site was put on the market by Lancashire County Council due to budget cuts.

In August 2021 it was sold in an auction, and the applicant acquired the site.

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To justify the loss of the community facility, the planning statement prepared by agents Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy Limited said: “The building is currently, and has been for some time, vacant and boarded up and the site becoming overgrown.

“As such the site currently does not have a positive impact upon the visual amenity of the street scene or the character of the area. It would require substantial capital investment to be able to bring this site back into a community use.

“This has led to the youth club or any other community use becoming unviable, with no reasonable prospect of such happening moving forwards.

“The sale of the site by the Council also demonstrates that the youth club facility no longer serves the needs of
the community in which it is located and that a community facility in this location is no longer needed.

“The existing building is not financially viable to retain and convert into residential accommodation, hence the proposal to demolish and replace.”

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The site is elevated above street level and is bounded by a brick wall along Francis Street and Rossal Street, the proposed 24 flats would be delivered across two blocks with windows facing onto these streets and Tulketh Crescent.

In terms of design and appearance the proposed development has taken its influence from the traditional Victorian built form in the Tulketh residential area, to fit in with its surroundings.

If plans are approved, 38 parking spaces would provided, split evenly between the two blocks, each having 17 resident spaces and two visitor spaces.

A total of 26 cycle parking spaces are proposed within the buildings.

To preserve and enhance biodiversity, planting is proposed to the site frontage in the way of bark mulched beds, to improve the street scene.

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There would also be planting beds around the car parking areas at the rear of the site to further enhance the appearance.

The planning statement further reveals that between 2014-2034 one and two bedroom properties account for two per cent of the dwelling requirement for market housing.

Identifying that the main group of buyers in Preston are young professionals and couples in their mid-20s to 30s looking to get on the property ladder and that more flats, particularly two bed properties could be beneficiary as some of the prospective buyers entering the housing ladder cannot afford to purchase terraced properties.

The planning statement said: “This proposal will make a valuable contribution to this identified housing need by providing one and two bedroom flats

“Due to its location and size the site clearly lends itself to redevelopment to provide additional housing in a highly sustainable location for singles, couples or families who want to reside in the area and benefit from the accessibility to shops, services, and nearby facilities.”

To view the full proposals visit the Preston City Council website.

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