Park Improvements Preston

Two Preston city parks have been given the green light for a multi-million pound revamp by the city’s Planning Committee this week.

The plans, submitted by Preston-based S&L Planning Consultants, have been approved. Eric Wright Civil Engineering, which is due to start in the summer, will carry out the work.

Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member at Preston City Council for Planning Regulation and Chair of the Planning Committee said: “We are delighted that these plans have been passed and we can get started on the much needed improvements to our city’s treasured green spaces.

“Given the special listed status that Moor Park enjoys, due respect has been given to the conservation areas and preserving and enhancing the historic park. Any new additions will make a positive contribution to the local character and distinctiveness of our parks.

“The regeneration and improvement of our parks will also help to increase outdoor activity and greater leisure time, improving the health and wellbeing of our communities by delivering new, higher quality and more accessible sports facilities, better footpaths and landscaping to enjoy, and providing a safer environment with the repair and fixing up of old heritage buildings, benches, railings, fences and pathways.”

Deborah Smith of S&L Planning added: Preston is proud of its parks and we’re thrilled to have played a part in their improvement, providing spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. The rejuvenated parks will also add to the City’s wider regeneration and its ongoing transformation.”

Moor Park, which is the city’s oldest park and Grade II* listed, will undergo a £4m programme of improvements which include:

• Extension and de-silting of Serpentine Lake and a new bridge across the lake
• Improvements to the Loggia and surrounding area (the Loggia is an outdoor corridor with a fully covered roof and outer wall that is open to the elements)
• Playground improvements
• Additional tree and shrub planting
• Improvements to the changing pavilion
• Groundworks to create wildflower meadows
• Improvements to the south-east entrance and car park

Waverley Park improvements Preston were approved at the previous February Planning Committee and include:

• 2 x 11-a-side football pitches
• 1 x 9-a-side football pitch
• 1 x pump track
• 1 x skate park following demolition of existing skate park
• Remodelling of car park with 27 x new car park spaces, creating 34 spaces in total
• Refurbishment of existing play area
• Widening footpaths and new landscaping  

Both proposals will be funded by UK Government and are part of a £20m Levelling Up bid made to the previous government’s administration. Park Improvements Preston