New pedestrian-friendly look for city's Harris Quarter

New pavements and lighting have been finished in the first step of improving a number of key streets between Preston Bus Station and the city's new Animate complex.

- by Ed Walker

Known as the Illuminate and Integrate scheme work began last summer on the Old Vicarage which runs from Tithebarn Street at the Bus Station plaza through to Lancaster Road and the Markets.

Trees, public seating and what's known as 'Gobo' lighting to allow scenes and colours to be projected onto the new pavements have been put in.

Developers say it is part of plans to make Preston city centre a nicer and easier place to move around on foot.

The works have been paid for by the Towns Fund investment which saw £20m in government money pumped into the city post-Covid to support the creation of the Animate leisure complex, the Youth Zone building, the Harris refurb-ishment and also support the area known as a the 'Harris Quarter' which runs from the Harris up to the Ringway and Markets.