Preston progresses £3.9m Moor Park revamp

While other Levelling Up Fund projects have fallen by the wayside, the city council’s plans to extend Serpentine Lake, install a bridge, and make other improvements to the grade two star-listed park are very much still on the table.

Preston City Council has submitted plans for its £3.9m programme of upgrades for the 99-acre Moor Park by Deepdale Stadium.

Chief among the application requests is permission to extend Serpentine Lake to its south, taking up an area that currently has trees. To facilitate the extension, the lake will be desilted as well with the mud raised from its bottom used to fertilise new wildflower meadows elsewhere in the park.

An 85-foot bridge designed by DYSE would also be installed across the lake, harkening back to a structure that used to occupy that space. Fountains would also be introduced, according to designs by landscape architect Planit.

Other improvements for the park include upgrades to its car park, events area, and playgrounds. The Victorian Loggia would also get a refresh.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering is assisting the local authority on its plans for Moor Park.

Dan Evans, programme manager at Eric Wright, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Preston City Council and are proud to be playing a key role in the restoration of Preston’s largest and oldest park.

“The proposals will sensitively improve key areas of this green space to ensure the people can enjoy the area for many years to come.”

Funds for the work come from Preston City Council’s successful £20m Levelling Up Fund bid.

Moor Park is just one of several parks that are getting a boost from the fund. Waverley Park is to receive £3.2m and Grange Park £30,000.

Other Levelling Up Fund projects have not been as lucky as the park. The city council had hoped to build an Ashton Park sports hub and a Preston Bus Station mobility hub but dropped both projects this summer due to rising costs.

You can explore the plans for Moor Park by searching application reference number 06/2024/1121 on Preston City Council’s planning portal. The project team includes Smith & Love Planning Consultants, John Bishop SJB, Kingswood M&E, Reid-Jones Partnership, Waterco, Bowland Ecology, Geo2, Alan Bishop and Associates, Sub-Surface, Bowland Tree Consultancy, and PBA Applied Ecology.