Accura4Matalan
June 15th, 2005, 05:42 PM
£800 million river dream
http://www.prestontoday.net/getedimage.aspx?ImageID=272310
REGENERATION: The ambitious plans will centre on the River Ribble
Preston's waterfront will be transformed under ambitious £800m plans to revamp Central Lancashire.
Bosses at Preston city and South Ribble councils have unveiled the 20 year vision which – they hope – will see massive investment focusing on the River Ribble, a plan which will see thousands of new homes and a country park built.
It would be a throwback to Preston's maritime heyday when it was once considered one of the country's most important docks.
The councils say the plan aims to maximise the true potential of the Ribble corridor and create a "new urban community" at the heart of the North West – and an alternative to Manchester and Liverpool.
Extended
It is hoped funding will come from private investors and funding agencies.
Ideas include a £350m Central Park, re-
instating a section of the Lancaster Canal, and maximising Dockland heritage.
The Lancaster Canal would be extended along its old line from Fylde Road towards the university at Maudland Road.
Planners say "Riverworks" is part of the growth of the city centre and follows on from the catalyst of the Tithebarn regeneration project.
The bold vision outlines plans for a promenade, riverside shops and offices and 3,000 to 4,000 new homes over a 20-year period.
The "Central Park" would be located on the south side of the river opposite Avenham and Miller Parks, creating a civic landmark and exciting new visitor destination.
Clusters of housing would form around the new park, attracting families to the city centre.
The Ribble Estuary is a haven for wildlife and could become the focus of a new regional park with improved wildlife habitats and a site for human recreation.
It is hoped a £190m investment in the Docklands, complete with new iconic architecture, would provide an ideal setting for festivals, performances and sporting events in the north west.
Four locations for a barrage across the River Ribble have been identified: one at the junction of the Ribble and Douglas rivers, one half way between that junction and the Riverworks site and two more closer to the city.
Mr Brogan said the closer the barrage is to the city the cheaper it is but the less water space there will be.
The Riverworks project comes on the back of other multi-million pound bids to transform Preston city centre.
Preston MP Mark Hendrick said the project would contribute towards Preston's vision to becoming the third city of the North West.
He said: "I welcome any attempt to regenerate any areas which have fallen into disuse. I also welcome any co-operation that can take place between the two councils as my constituency includes parts of South Ribble and Preston."
Preston could also become a national centre for excellence for water-based activities as planners also consider the feasibility of constructing a barrage, as was created on the Thames, to maintain water levels and make the riverside more attractive.
Last month the Evening Post revealed that the Ribble was becoming a "Mecca" for the increasing number of boat users who visit it every year.
Also last month, it was revealed that Preston Council bosses were bidding for tens of millions of pounds from the North West Development Agency to develop a city centre commercial quarter, a cultural quarter and a residential quarter.
The majority of the land contained within the plan is currently open space and would require very little demolition work, although roads would need to be built to improve access.
Work could potentially start on the first stage of the project by 2008.
Mike Brogan, Preston City Council's assistant director of city projects, has been working on the proposals.
He said: "The river has previously been a boundary between the two authorities, but if we look at other places, like York and Chester, the river is the centre of activity and the focus of the city.
"We don't want to compete with Manchester and Liverpool on size, where it takes an hour to drive in. We don't want that, we want some of the facilities of a bigger city with easy access to the countryside to use for leisure and recreation.
"It would be nice to have families living in and around the city centre. Putting together this new concept is probably 20 years from start to finish. It is not a simple project, but I think the time is right."
The two councils have already drawn up a pre-feasibility study which is now being worked up into detailed proposals.
They are currently consulting the North West Development Agency to discuss ways and means of moving the project on to the next stage.
In a joint statement Coun John Collins, Labour Leader of the Council, Conservative leader Coun Ken Hudson and Lib Dem leader Coun Christine Abram welcomed the Riverside Project: "Riverworks is a bold vision which would bring hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and transform the area by the river, next to Riversway Docklands."
South Ribble Council leader Howard Gore added: "These are really exciting ideas and we're firmly behind the Riverworks initiative.
"For too long the river has been a boundary – almost a barrier – but it could offer so much more for South Ribble and Preston."
15 June 2005
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/images/urban_content_10_01.jpg
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/images/urban_content_10_02.jpg
Notice the tramlines ;)
Architects Website:
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/urban_content_10.html
Should be very interesting. £800m is a lot of money to spend and the river has so much potential.
http://www.prestontoday.net/getedimage.aspx?ImageID=272310
REGENERATION: The ambitious plans will centre on the River Ribble
Preston's waterfront will be transformed under ambitious £800m plans to revamp Central Lancashire.
Bosses at Preston city and South Ribble councils have unveiled the 20 year vision which – they hope – will see massive investment focusing on the River Ribble, a plan which will see thousands of new homes and a country park built.
It would be a throwback to Preston's maritime heyday when it was once considered one of the country's most important docks.
The councils say the plan aims to maximise the true potential of the Ribble corridor and create a "new urban community" at the heart of the North West – and an alternative to Manchester and Liverpool.
Extended
It is hoped funding will come from private investors and funding agencies.
Ideas include a £350m Central Park, re-
instating a section of the Lancaster Canal, and maximising Dockland heritage.
The Lancaster Canal would be extended along its old line from Fylde Road towards the university at Maudland Road.
Planners say "Riverworks" is part of the growth of the city centre and follows on from the catalyst of the Tithebarn regeneration project.
The bold vision outlines plans for a promenade, riverside shops and offices and 3,000 to 4,000 new homes over a 20-year period.
The "Central Park" would be located on the south side of the river opposite Avenham and Miller Parks, creating a civic landmark and exciting new visitor destination.
Clusters of housing would form around the new park, attracting families to the city centre.
The Ribble Estuary is a haven for wildlife and could become the focus of a new regional park with improved wildlife habitats and a site for human recreation.
It is hoped a £190m investment in the Docklands, complete with new iconic architecture, would provide an ideal setting for festivals, performances and sporting events in the north west.
Four locations for a barrage across the River Ribble have been identified: one at the junction of the Ribble and Douglas rivers, one half way between that junction and the Riverworks site and two more closer to the city.
Mr Brogan said the closer the barrage is to the city the cheaper it is but the less water space there will be.
The Riverworks project comes on the back of other multi-million pound bids to transform Preston city centre.
Preston MP Mark Hendrick said the project would contribute towards Preston's vision to becoming the third city of the North West.
He said: "I welcome any attempt to regenerate any areas which have fallen into disuse. I also welcome any co-operation that can take place between the two councils as my constituency includes parts of South Ribble and Preston."
Preston could also become a national centre for excellence for water-based activities as planners also consider the feasibility of constructing a barrage, as was created on the Thames, to maintain water levels and make the riverside more attractive.
Last month the Evening Post revealed that the Ribble was becoming a "Mecca" for the increasing number of boat users who visit it every year.
Also last month, it was revealed that Preston Council bosses were bidding for tens of millions of pounds from the North West Development Agency to develop a city centre commercial quarter, a cultural quarter and a residential quarter.
The majority of the land contained within the plan is currently open space and would require very little demolition work, although roads would need to be built to improve access.
Work could potentially start on the first stage of the project by 2008.
Mike Brogan, Preston City Council's assistant director of city projects, has been working on the proposals.
He said: "The river has previously been a boundary between the two authorities, but if we look at other places, like York and Chester, the river is the centre of activity and the focus of the city.
"We don't want to compete with Manchester and Liverpool on size, where it takes an hour to drive in. We don't want that, we want some of the facilities of a bigger city with easy access to the countryside to use for leisure and recreation.
"It would be nice to have families living in and around the city centre. Putting together this new concept is probably 20 years from start to finish. It is not a simple project, but I think the time is right."
The two councils have already drawn up a pre-feasibility study which is now being worked up into detailed proposals.
They are currently consulting the North West Development Agency to discuss ways and means of moving the project on to the next stage.
In a joint statement Coun John Collins, Labour Leader of the Council, Conservative leader Coun Ken Hudson and Lib Dem leader Coun Christine Abram welcomed the Riverside Project: "Riverworks is a bold vision which would bring hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and transform the area by the river, next to Riversway Docklands."
South Ribble Council leader Howard Gore added: "These are really exciting ideas and we're firmly behind the Riverworks initiative.
"For too long the river has been a boundary – almost a barrier – but it could offer so much more for South Ribble and Preston."
15 June 2005
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/images/urban_content_10_01.jpg
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/images/urban_content_10_02.jpg
Notice the tramlines ;)
Architects Website:
http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/urban_content_10.html
Should be very interesting. £800m is a lot of money to spend and the river has so much potential.