Worthington submits plans for Preston apartment block

Developer Worthington Group has revealed proposals for an eight-storey apartment block on the site of the Preston City Mission on Corporation Street.

Designed by Stride Treglown, the property will replace the timber-framed City Mission building, used as a church, and a surface car park. It sits alongside a Premier Inn on a gateway site to the city centre.

The 59,000 sq ft building will include 78 private rented apartments, split between 60 one-beds and 18 two-beds, on the upper floors. The apartments will be delivered through Worthington’s housing arm, Hollinwood Homes.

There will also be a 4,500 sq ft retail unit on the ground floor, while the existing congregation of the City Mission will relocate to a purpose-built facility in the building, covering 3,400 sq ft on the ground and first floors.

Two storeys have been added to the project since a pre-application meeting with Preston Council at the start of this year. A public consultation was held in the summer.

The site has long been earmarked for development, after a 13-storey building including commercial space and a church on ground floor, and student accommodation on the upper floors, was approved in 2009. The scheme was also designed by Stride Treglown for Worthingon, but was never progressed.