£6m youth zone given go-ahead

Plans for the new building next to Preston Bus Station, which were submitted in August, have now been approved by Lancashire County Council. 

Once completed, the new building will be operated by OnSide Youth Zones, a national charity dedicated to providing facilities for young people to spend their leisure time.

Preston Youth Zone, which has established itself as a charity, will contribute £1m to the construction costs, while Lancashire County Council will invest the remaining £5m. 

Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "We're delighted that we've got approval for this exciting project, which will provide a major new space for young people.

"This planning approval is a major step forward for our overall redevelopment plans on the bus station site.

"There's a great momentum building on this project, with car park repairs, concourse improvements and now the planning approval for the new youth zone.

"It's important news for our young people, as well as this part of the city centre."

Guy Topping, chairman of Preston Youth Zone said: "This is a significant step forward in the development of the youth zone and we are absolutely delighted that the hard work it has taken to get to this point, has now paid off.

"The potential the youth zone has for the whole of Preston and its future generation is unprecedented - it will change the lives of thousands of young people."

Plans for the youth zone in Preston were first unveiled in October 2014.

Rob Carter, deputy chief executive of Onside Youth Zones told CYP Now in July that the charity wants to establish 100 youth zones within the "next generation".