An £80 million regeneration project for Preston was given unanimous approval on July 22 at a special meeting held at Preston City Council.

The scheme will now be presented to Government Office North West for further review and subject to scrutiny by the Department of Communities and Local Government, work will commence on site within six months.

The Cottam Hall Brickworks scheme will provide up to 700 permanent jobs and 200 jobs in construction. It is likely to be Preston’s main regeneration project to get underway in 2012.

The development aims to be one of the country’s most sustainable regeneration projects transforming a derelict 28 acre site. It is one of a new generation of schemes in the UK that answers transport, leisure, business, residential, ecological and social issues in one major redevelopment.

Ian Rankin, chairman of Cottam Hall Properties, the developer behind the project added:

"We are delighted the scheme has been given approval by the City Council but we are still a few steps away from cutting the first sod. However, this is a major step forward in delivering a scheme that demonstrates how well different urban uses can complement each other while giving immediate access to the countryside, the canal and sports facilities. The ecology will not only be enriched with nature reserves on and offsite, but will be brought into the lives of children, students and people throughout the community through educational programmes.

"While providing a substantial proportion of the new housing required by Preston, the development will include the shopping, amenities and employment that has long been promised to this part of the City. I would also like to thank John Turner & Sons in particular without its support we would not have reached this stage, and Tesco which ha anchored the project since 2004".

The scheme will have at is heart a flagship Tesco superstore. Jon Bennett, at Tesco’s Manchester office commented on the project. He said: “Tesco is delighted to be part of this major regeneration initiative proposal and has been working with Cottam Hall Properties, the City Council and stakeholders to help deliver a comprehensive and sustainable mixed use development opportunity."

Construction company, John Turner and Sons will be delivering the project as the main contractor. Managing director, John Clarke added:

"Turners has been associated with this development for some time and see the project as securing valuable future workload for our 250 employees based at our Manchester and Preston offices."

Andy Taylorson, head of agency at Eckersley, the property consultant for the development concluded:

"Cottam Hall Brickworks has attracted a lot of interest prior to the planning application submission and we are in advanced discussions with a number of parties about acquiring elements of the development. This is very encouraging given the tough market conditions we are presently operating in.

"A great deal of thought and effort has gone into the scheme, ultimately delivering a very attractive investment proposition.”