Preston aparthotel in for planning
Four Architects has designed the 42-unit scheme for applicant DS & Co Developments for the mostly-vacant Avenham Street plot.
The applicant has filed plans for serviced accommodation over five to seven storeys, with a commercial offer at ground floor along with facilities for the aparthotel. In all, what is a narrow building will weigh in at just under 20,000 sq ft.
Zerum is the planning consultant. Also on the project team are ecb Design Group, Tyler Grange, Miller Goodall, LK Consulting, and SCP.
The site is 12-14 Avenham Street in the city centre, a plot that is mostly vacant, but will require the removal of a small building.
It sits just off Church Street, with Avenham Street joining that thoroughfare opposite the Miller Arcade. Hospitality operations in the immediate area include Hopwood Taphouse, Angelo’s and Baker Street Preston. Old Cock Yard sits to the west, where surface parking is in operation, a more permanent use being yet to come forward.
Redevelopment in the area is highlighted with a rash of change of use applications: the temporary surface parking, a bar/restaurant consented at 149 Church Street, immediately north of the site, in March 2022, 14 hotel bedrooms approved opposite and to the east in February 2021.
In its planning statement, Zerum said: “The development will bring an underutilised site back into active use and deliver high-quality serviced apartments, with a ground floor commercial use.
“Flexibility is sought in relation to the ground floor unit so that it can respond to the demands of the market.”
Pre-application discussions have been ongoing since 2020. The applicant, Liverpool-registered DS&Co, is described by Zerum as an experienced operator with a track record including residential reconstruction and maintenance, through to the construction of residential and commercial buildings.
Most of the floors will accommodate eight apartments, with one floor including six, as there are two two-bedroom apartments planned at that level. The smaller upper floors have only four apartments.
The plans can be viewed on Preston’s planning portal with the reference 06/2024/1073.
