Green light for traffic measures linked to transformation of Preston city centre

The Transforming Friargate North and Ringway scheme, one of the first Transforming Cities Fund project, is being delivered by Lancashire County Council, in partnership with Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), as part of its successful Transforming Cities Fund bid.

The aim of the project is to create improved linkage of the city across Ring Way and encourage increased bus use, walking and cycling into and around Preston City Centre, while making Friargate a much more attractive destination.  

To help achieve this, a package of proposals have been put forward by the county council that seek to encourage the flow of people between the University and the Harris Quarter, reconnecting the city to provide a joined-up shopping and leisure experience.

Construction works are ongoing and traffic regulation orders (TROs), and other proposals are also proposed to work in unison with these to achieve the project aims. 

To improve the flow of buses and encourage their use, it is proposed to create a bus only lane, except cycles and taxis, on Corporation Street in both directions between Heatley Street and Marsh Lane.  This would prohibit private vehicles, reducing traffic levels and making cycling safer and more attractive on this route from UCLan towards Ring Way, the rail station and beyond. 

Corporation Street

To encourage increased active travel through the Friargate North and Corporation Street areas it is proposed to introduce a 20mph speed limit across the area. This will join with the existing University area 20mph zone, creating an expanded low speed neighbourhood and increasing pedestrian, cyclist and vulnerable user safety in the area to encourage active travel.

Advertising and consultation regarding the proposals took place between 4 November and 2 December 2022. All the proposals and the consultation responses were considered by the county council's cabinet on Thursday, 2 February.

Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Preston is going through an exciting change and these proposed measures are a vital cog in the machine we are building.

"In conjunction with the major construction works we are undertaking, these proposals will fundamentally change the way we travel in and around Preston city centre.

"Thank you everyone who took the time to look at the proposals and give feedback.

"All of the responses have been considered and cabinet colleagues have agreed to move forward with these plans to bring Preston in line with other major cities in the North."

For more information visit: Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Thursday, 2nd February, 2023, 2.00 pm (lancashire.gov.uk)