Away from the big redevelopment schemes and plans for new tower blocks and more in Preston city centre sit many buildings often overlooked.

Some are listed, some are not, but many are empty. What could they be used for?

Bringing together the city’s developer, heritage, architecture and concerned resident community then In-Between Places aims to spark life and conversation into a dozen buildings which perhaps don’t get the profile or focus in the city.

Read more: See more about redevelopment in and around Preston

The brainchild of architect John Bridge, who is never afraid of an artist impression for how something could be used or look like it, this event aims to stimulate the places slightly off the beaten track in and around the city centre.

Put on by Blog Preston and Studio John Bridge, the event will take place at Society1 in Cross Street on Wednesday 19 March and is free to attend – although you need to request a ticket via Eventbrite.

John Bridge said: “After having given a talk at Lost Bar early 2024, the post talk discussion in the bar with the audience was so engaging, that it gave me an idea about creating an opportunity for a ‘forum’.

“To create a unique event for key people from cross sectors, a diverse range of public, professional and authorities to come together in a welcoming space to discuss issues and ideas.

“For the regeneration of a number of selected buildings and sites within Preston. The aim is to provide a safe space for creative discussion through ‘people-powered’ ideas for what can be done with key unloved buildings and sites scattered in and around the city centre.

“These buildings and sites would be smaller and perhaps not on the radar of some of the larger Master Plans / multi-million pound zones that are already being identified through the likes of the Preston Regeneration Board.

“These buildings and sites whilst smaller, play a critical part in a Prestonians day to day life, and if regenerated could have a profound positive impact on well being, financial wealth, convenience and simply ‘joy’.”

The ideas and conversations from the event will form the basis of a Blog Preston story focused on the buildings discussed and how they could be used.

Founder and co-editor of Blog Preston, Ed Walker, said: “There’s always a lot of talk and focus about large-scale schemes in the city but we know from all the stories we’ve done over the years on Blog Preston there’s also just as much interest, and importance, on when a smaller building comes back into use.

“We want to give some of our readers the opportunity to be there in the room and put their ideas forward to, and we’ll then be bringing those ideas out for the city to see post-event too. And you never know who might then take an idea and run with it.”

The event is supported by The Preston Partnership, a membership organisation focused on and supporting businesses in the city, which has a mandate to encourage investment and redevelopment in the city.

Chair of The Preston Partnership, John Chesworth, said: “Preston has many exciting regeneration plans such as Station Quarter and Harris Quarter. It’s also crucial we don’t forget the opportunities presented by large and small unused buildings, which are equally important to the continued development of our city.

“By bringing the relevant people together, this event will facilitate a focused discussion around selected buildings in key areas of the city.

“This represents a positive step towards combating some of the unique challenges that often come with developing empty and unused buildings, and an opportunity to carve change throughout Preston by offering creative and actionable ideas on how such spaces could be transformed into useful premises.”

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