Victorian warehouse in Preston set for £2.5m residential makeover

Plans for Preston’s first loft-style apartment scheme have been revealed.

The £2.5m regeneration project hopes to transform a disused warehouse dating back to Victorian times into modern homes.

Property firm Etc Urban Developments is looking to turn the former carriage factory on Guildhall Street into 17 two-bed and one-bed apartments and studios.

The scheme is backed by the government’s Growing Places Fund, which is led in Preston by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and part of the City Deal investment.

In addition to the homes, the development will deliver a street level arcade comprising commercial space geared towards restaurants, café, bars and retailers.

Neil Thornton, director of Preston- and London-based Etc Urban Developments, said: “Our plan is to restore this building back to its original appearance bringing an historic and important commercial building in Preston from the Victorian era back to full use in the 21st Century.

“We believe Preston city centre needs the kind of historic residential development that has helped to transform the centres of other Northern cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.”

He continued: “Bringing people back into the centre to live, work and play has helped to revitalise the day and night-time economies of these cities.

“The intention is for this warehouse conversion project to act as a catalyst for further regeneration and residential projects, bringing increased vitality to Preston’s city centre.”

The development’s basement will become a secure car-parking facility for the majority of residents, with space allocated on a ‘first-come-first-sold’ basis to apartment buyers.

Speaking further, Etc director Neil said: “The 120-year-old warehouse will be sympathetically restored retaining as many original features as possible for both residents and the community to enjoy.

“We are fortunate the building’s first use as a carriage manufactory was later taken over by the United Yeast Company and used for storage, which helped preserve these features for decades.”

If Preston City Council approves the plans, construction will begin immediately. The homes would hit the market in early 2017.

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