PRESTON City Council says it is continuing to make progress on plans to create a cinema on the site of the old market hall. It follows a meeting of the full council behind closed doors to discuss updates and make decisions over the continued development of the “Harris Quarter”.
As well as the city centre cinema, the scheme’s initial designs include restaurants which will face Preston Market Hall, and the creation of a new public square. There are also plans for a 250 space multi-storey car park providing a gateway frontage with direct access from Ringway.
Speaking after the meeting council leader Matthew Brown said: “I am pleased to say that with unanimous cross-party council support we are able to progress with our ambitious plans for the former Market Hall and Market car park site.
“We are working hard to ensure that our plans, which include an exciting cinema and leisure offer, maximise the benefit to both Preston city centre and the wider economy.“ It is important to us that the development complements Preston Markets and the burgeoning leisure and cultural offer in the city centre, as well as deliver our core values of community wealth building and social value in every achievable way.
“I look forward to continuing to work alongside Muse and The Light Cinemas to achieve this exciting development for the city.” The city council says that a year after the opening of the new Preston Market Hall it is making good progress on the wider regeneration plans for the area.
The Harris recently received confirmation of development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the former Post Office building’s transformation into the Shankley Hotel continues. The Harris has received development funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £180,900, for the ambitious Re-Imagining the Harris project. The project aims to establish the Harris as the UK’s first blended museum, art gallery and library.