Ten empty buildings in Preston city centre are in the spotlight for creative ways to bring them back into use.

Former department stores, empty offices, relics of Georgian townhouses and more were all subject of the recent In-Between Places event.

Held by Blog Preston in collaboration with Studio John Bridge and supported by the Preston Partnership the event brought dozens of architects, developers, heritage campaigners, creatives and passionate Prestonians together for how buildings currently gathering dust could be regenerated.

We promised to bring you some of the ideas and the state-of-play for the buildings looked at, so in no particular order here are the In-Between Places we feel could become places once again for the city.

The In-Between Spaces #1: Former Past Times building

Where is it? Corner of Fishergate and Glovers Court

Who owns it? Privately owned, part of a strip of buildings owned between 1-8 Fishergate by the Almulla family based in the United Arab Emirates. The block was bought in 2022 for £400,000.

What could it become?

Previously a gift shop the store has stood empty for many years now and the aptly named Past Times still sits on the shop frontage. It’s been used occasionally for promoting events happening in the city with posters on the window – and in 2019 it was found to have illegal workers living inside it and in 2022 a proposal was lodged to convert it into a Middle Eastern restaurant but no progress has been made since.

There were a range of uses put forward from holiday apartments on the top, with a heritage centre underneath or an auction house, or becoming a high-end restaurant downstairs. Or there was a strong feeling it could be a ‘studio’ development of some kind with a range of businesses sharing the space.

What does the owner say?

We were unable to find a way to contact the owners of the building.

The In-Between Spaces #2: Shereton House

Where is it? Ormskirk Road

Who owns it? Privately owned by Woking-based firm Gutenburg Gates Limited and was bought for £1.1m in October 2021.

What could it become?

Previously a gym and offices, there have been numerous proposals put forward previously for this site – which has been subject to attempted arson and anti-social behaviour in recent years.

This well-connected site, which is near the new Animate scheme and a number of new apartment blocks, was best looked at for becoming a residential development.

There’s a heritage aspect to the site, as it used to be a former Co-Operative building and is built in the Edwardian baroque style.

What does the owner say?

We were unable to find a way to contact the owners of the building.

The In-Between Spaces #3: Victoria House

Where is it? Ormskirk Road and Ringway

Who owns it? Privately owned although the city council own the land and freehold with a third-party having a long lease on the building.

What could it become?

Recently seen activity by emergency services due to window fittings becoming unsafe the long-empty block has previously seen plans to be converted into apartments.

Ideas for the building ranged from having apartments on its upper floors, some kind of leisure-use in the mid-floors and then a co-working space on the ground floor. While other ideas included a ‘Botany Bay’ style market place or converting into a mid-market hotel.

What does the owner say?

We were unable to find a way to contact the current leaseholder of the building.

The In-Between Spaces #4: Edith Rigby House

Where is it? Winckley Square and Mount Street

Who owns it? Privately owned by Metropolitan Properties (Investments) Limited

What could it become?

The grade-II listed building has been subject of fierce debate about its future, as a campaign group has been launched calling for it to become a suffragette museum. Recently ribbons and slogans appeared on the building calling for its preservation – as concerns are raised about its current condition due to weather damage. Enforcement action has previously been taken by the city council over the state of the building which is known as College House.

Ideas for the building ranged from a boutique hotel to a new lunch-focused café and coffee shop, through to a micro-brewery. But there’s concerns about the energy efficiency and general condition of the building for any future use.

What does the owner say?

Blog Preston made contact with the parent company of Metropolitan Properties (Investments) Limited but received no response by the time of publication.

The In-Between Spaces #5: Lancastria House

Where is it? Lancaster Road

Who owns it? Preston City Council

What could it become?

Art-deco inspired the former Great Times restaurant and council offices stands in a prominent position next to the new Animate development and city’s Market Hall. It had been used as a temporary base for contractors working on the new cinema and leisure complex.

Ideas for the building, which has appeared in films, ranged from it becoming a small-scale music and concert venue to an artists hub or a youth hostel.

What does the owner say?

A city council spokesperson said: “The Council is currently renting this out to its contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineer to deliver the Amounderness House project, a £9m+ conversion of an empty listed building into flexible office workspace. Long term, the Council want to see this building in active use and a decision will be taken later this year.”

The In-Between Spaces #6: Former Bargains Galore, Church Street

Where is it? Church Street and Church Brow (including the current NCP car park)

Who owns it? Preston City Council owns the former shop, the car park is privately owned

What could it become?

Long shuttered the former Bargains store is next door to the Bears Paw pub and next to a car park which is private owned. The area sees lots of footfall from students heading to Cardinal Newman College from the Bus Station, and back, during the mornings and afternoons.

The idea for this site ranged from having a space which was focused on outdoor activities for young people in the city – from a BMX or skate track to a new outdoor park space, or attempting a mini box market like there is under the Fish Market canopy at Preston Markets.

What does the owner say?

A city council spokesperson said: “The Council want to see this site redeveloped to aid the regeneration of the Stoneygate area in line with the masterplan and a decision will be taken on its future later this year.

The In-Between Spaces #7: Ormskirk House/Ribchester House

Where is it? Ringway and Lancaster Road

Who owns it? Privately owned although the city council own the land and freehold with a third-party having a long lease on the building.

What could it become?

Similar to Victoria House but vacated more recently, this was the home to Forbes Solicitors in the city who have now moved to the outskirts – it has the familiar temperature indictor on it as you drive along Ringway and now sits next door to the new Animate site.

The ideas felt this and Victoria House could now ‘come as a pair’ when it comes to trying to find a new use, ranging from apartments to having a large workspace set across both buildings with retail or leisure uses on the ground floors. And there was a strong feeling that both buildings, due to their position facing Ringway, could look to have ‘green roofs or green walls’ which incorporate eco-living into them or some kind of artwork reflecting the city too with a mural.

What does the owner say?

We were unable to find a way to contact the current leaseholder of the building.

The In-Between Spaces #8: Former BHS store

Where is it? Fishergate

Who owns it? Privately owned by the Bhailok group as Azure Assets Limited

What could it become?

One of the most infamous empty buildings in the city, any progress on the former department store has moved at a snails pace. Owned by one of the largest landowners in the city it has seen a number of plans go in for its use and been subject to an investigation as to whether it was being used as a snail farm to bypass the need for business rates by being reclassified as an agricultural use.

The ideas for the building, agricultural aside, ranged from becoming apartments upstairs to a creative and studio space downstairs. It was also floated as being the location for a new city health hub, which has wide support to be brought in as and when the city’s hospital is due to relocate in the coming decades from Fulwood and go outside the city borders.

What does the owner say?

A spokesperson for Azure Assets Limited told Blog Preston: “We recognise the significant potential of the former BHS building as a key property in Preston’s city centre revitalization. Our team is actively seeking to engage with Preston City Council to explore viable mixed-use schemes that would benefit the community while ensuring commercial sustainability.

“Meaningful progress requires collaborative partnership with local authorities to align with the city’s broader development vision. We remain committed to investing in Preston’s future and hope renewed interest in these empty spaces will catalyse productive discussions about practical pathways forward for this prominent Fishergate location.”

The In-Between Spaces #9: Former Odeon and Tokyo Jo’s site

Where is it? Fishergate and Sykes Hill

Who owns it? Privately owned, The Rigby Trust

What could it become?

Burnt down in 2022 the majority of the site, excluding the reclaimed art deco frontage of the former cinema, has become a new surface-level car park as a temporary measure.

Ideas floated included becoming a mega nightclub again, a bar and restaurant, a box market and indoor market space, through to being a theatre and venue. There was a strong wish for it to be an entertainment-based use again due to its prominent position in the city centre.

What does the owner say?

Blog Preston contacted The Rigby Trust but received no response by the time of publication.

The In-Between Spaces #10: Lamb and Packet pub

Where is it? Friargate/Adelphi roundabout

Who owns it? University of Central Lancashire

What could it become?

Bought by the university the pub, previously owned by Thwaites, was a stopping off point for many students heading into town on a night out. But it’s stood empty for many years now.

This building, due to its proximity to the student population, saw the most varied potential uses – from an AI playground through to a late-night coffee shop. There was a strong feeling it should be an entertainment use which was non-alcohol focused due to the changing nature of student habits and the diversity of the student population too.

What does the owner say?

A spokesperson for the university said: “It continues to be owned by the University. No decisions have been made about its future.”

Reaction to the In-Between Places event

Architect and one of the team behind the event John Bridge said: “It was fantastic to see such a diverse cross-section of the community come together to explore the potential of these overlooked spaces in Preston. Events like this are so important for sparking ideas and conversations, and I hope it will inspire building owners to think differently about how they could bring these buildings back into productive use. I was proud to be part of such a purposeful and forward-looking event.”

Blog Preston asked the city council for an update on its redevelopment plans and their reaction to the In-Between Places event.

Director of development and housing at Preston City Council, Chris Hayward, said: “Like many other city centres, Preston has witnessed an increase in the number of empty properties, due to circumstances affecting the national economy, and these properties attract anti-social behaviour and vandalism. The majority of these are privately-owned. Where properties are neglected by owners, the Council will use its enforcement powers to take action. However, Preston has also witnessed significant improvement over the last ten years, largely due to Council investment in regeneration schemes, promotion of its city living strategy and masterplans to encourage regeneration.

“Public Investment in the Bus Station, the Markets, Winckley Square Gardens, Fishergate and Friargate public realm, University Square, the Harris, Animate, Amounderness House and the Youth Zone is outweighing the negative impacts of the national economy. Multi-million pound investment in our parks will also improve the quality of life for our communities

“There is more to be done, and the Council will continue to do more, in order to protect and promote our heritage and cultural offer, provide jobs for local people, and make the city centre a more vibrant place to live, work and visit.”

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