Projects approved for Preston’s Pride in Place Impact Fund

A list of projects to deliver improvements to our neighbourhoods and community assets has been approved utilising £1.5 million Pride in Place Capital funding for Preston.

The three objectives for the funding will see community spaces being updated and refurbished; public spaces being improved or added to; and the city centre revitalised with improved safety measures and a public art installation.

Examples of projects include refurbishments or installations of kitchens in buildings for community use; replacement facilities or upgrades to parks assets; a new creche facility for a community group; a community and training café; additional CCTV cameras to aid safety; and a public art installation for the city centre.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said: “Having access to vital funding allocations, such as Pride in Place, enables us to help numerous community groups and projects, as well as being able to take forward some Council projects that have been on a wish list for some time.

“We now have the opportunity to enable community organisations with the repair and refurbishment of spaces in some of the city’s more deprived areas. This means more local residents can benefit from the impact of improved spaces being used every week for social activities that improve people’s health and wellbeing.”

Preston Pride in Place Impact Fund – list of approved projects

Projects to deliver the Fund’s ‘public spaces’ objective

Moor Park Pavilion

Replacement of the roof at Moor Park Pavilion, to enhance usability and the

experience for local residents and visitors to this well-used community asset.

Hartington Road Courts Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)

The Hartington Road Courts MUGA requires resurfacing and repainting to provide an exciting area in which residents can be active, encouraging people to use the space. Hartington Road Hut Club, who regularly engage with the local community, alerted the council to this local need. The site has existing floodlights, so as an additional benefit the site can be used outside daylight hours.

Preston Docks Aeration Pilot

Blooms of cyanobacteria cause nuisance odours and release toxins, thus prohibiting the use of Preston Docks for water contact sport and recreation. The western half of the main dock is currently leased to Preston Marine Services as a pleasure boat marina, housing also the Beach Hut café and hosting the popular annual dragon boat race. The docks remain underutilised due to the persistent cyanobacteria blooms. This project will pilot the use of underwater aeration to mix the water, therefore pushing the algae to the bottom where it becomes silt. If this pilot is successful, the council could explore fundraising to aerate the entire docks therefore bringing an important recreational and community space into use.

Creative Space community & training cafe

A community café that gives young people a structured route into paid work experience, built around real customer interaction, teamwork and time-management. It's the difference between a young person telling an employer they're ready to work, and a young person being able to show it. The goal is a direct, evidenced pipeline from disengagement to employability to employment.

Projects to deliver the Fund’s ‘High Street and town centre revitalisation’ objective

CCTV Enhancement in Fishwick & Frenchwood, Plungington and the City Centre

There have been several serious incidents in the areas proposed in recent years, and the proposal will expand CCTV coverage by installing or refurbishing CCTV cameras, delivering one in the city centre, three on New Hall Lane and two near Callon Stores, plus one at Plungington. The scheme will deliver 24/7 monitored surveillance, improving safety across key public spaces, recreational areas and busy pedestrian routes.

Alleygating Turk’s Head and Old Cock Yard

Turk’s Head Yard and Old Cock Yard are immediately adjacent to the busiest areas of the city centre night-time economy, making them particularly vulnerable to anti-social behaviour. Both areas experience ongoing misuse, including drug dealing and substance misuse. Preston BID and local licensees have proposed alleygating to reduce anti-social behaviour. The scheme will help restrict unauthorised access, reduce opportunities for crime and improve public safety.

Civic Art Project

Celebrating Preston’s artistic heritage whilst complementing the regeneration scheme at Friargate South, public art will be installed in the City Centre.

Projects to deliver the Fund’s ‘community spaces’ objective

Haslam Park Lodge

Renovating and refurbishing Haslam Park Lodge will restore the building to safe, usable condition and create a valuable community asset.

Plungington Community Centre – installation of solar panels and a battery

Plungington Community Centre is owned by Preston City Council and managed by Caritas Care, which provides adoption and fostering services and operates the building as a community hub. It offers a food bank, warm space, wellbeing support, social activities, and affordable room hire for local community groups. Solar panels and a battery will enable Plungington Community Centre to meet its electricity needs. An independent assessment by the local company Solargen found the site can accommodate 48 solar panels and six batteries, generating 20,832 kWh annually, with a projected payback period of four years. The resulting savings will help Caritas Care maintain subsidised access to community spaces and could support a future grant fund for local groups.

Vine House Cancer Support Centre

CancerHelp is an independent local charity that provides practical, emotional and psychological support to people affected by cancer. It is seeking funding to improve accessibility, safety and the overall experience at its Vine House Cancer Support Centre. Proposed works include improved parking and accessibility measures, upgraded lighting, CCTV and security systems, an automated entrance gate, enhancements to external areas, and a new therapeutic garden building. These improvements will increase the centre’s capacity, expand opportunities for therapeutic and group activities, and create a more welcoming, accessible and secure environment for service users and volunteers.

Tanterton Village Hall

Tanterton Village Hall will modernise and improve its 45-year-old community facility. The project includes refurbishment of toilet facilities, installation of commercial kitchen

ventilation and the replacement of a café window with French doors and security shutters. The hall supports a wide range of community activities, including youth provision, fitness classes, social groups and a community café which opens six days a week. The proposed investment will enhance the building's accessibility and long-term viability, helping to secure an important community resource for residents.

Tanterton Christian Fellowship

Tanterton Christian Fellowship will upgrade and refurbish its community building, improving accessibility and functionality. Planned works refurbishment and relocation of toilet facilities and reconfiguration of children's and breakout spaces. The improvements will enable the organisation to expand its existing community activities, enhance safeguarding arrangements and create a more flexible, welcoming facility for residents.

Preston Community Hub

Preston Community Hub will create an accessible shower and changing facility, replace flooring and replaster and redecorate the main hall. These upgrades will improve comfort, accessibility and usability for a wide range of community groups, helping the hub to better support residents and increase participation in local activities.

Quwwat Education Centre

Quwwat Education Centre are currently constructing a new facility providing community, health, wellbeing and sports spaces and the investment will support this facility. Various community groups will make use of the facility, which will be administrated by the Preston Muslim Society.

Sahara in Preston

Sahara in Preston is seeking funding towards the creation of a creche facility, to enable BME women who are unable to access childcare to attend skills courses at Sahara. The project will create a safe, legally compliant and welcoming environment for children.

St Bernards Community Centre

St Bernard’s Community Centre hosts a range of local groups, including toddler and sports/fitness groups. The centre is seeking to install a new industrial kitchen to strengthen food provision and community activities. This improvement will increase the functionality, security and long-term sustainability of the centre, enabling it to better support community groups, food provision activities and a wider range of services for residents.

Grimshaw Community Centre

Grimshaw Community Centre host several community groups including a regular soup kitchen and Pathfinders group. The Main Theatre Hall is currently not in use due

disrepair. The centre is therefore suffering a loss of income, and the community is unable to use the space. The Main Theatre Hall will be used for bigger events, such as a community market and to hire out to local people therefore improving the ability of the centre to sustain itself and to serve the community.

Catherine Beckett Community Centre

Catherine Beckett Community Centre host a variety of community groups including youth, fitness and friendship groups. They are seeking funding to modernise the inside of the building, which will complement an extension they are currently fundraising.