Preston cinema and leisure development nears final stage

There is only one unit left to be filled within Preston’s new cinema and leisure complex as it nears the final stage of its development, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

The area reserved for a competitive games outlet is the sole part of the ‘Animate’ scheme yet to find an operator.  However, the LDRS understands the space may yet be split in two, leaving a smaller unit for a group socialising attraction – like an escape room – and making way for a sixth restaurant.

The last of the other restaurant spaces that will form part of the development is currently under offer.  The identity of the eatery will be revealed once the deal has been concluded.

It is now less than a week until Preston City Council takes control of its £45m project, which will be officially handed over by construction firm Eric Wright after the ‘practical completion’ of the building.

That milestone moment will then allow the tenants who have signed up to the scheme to begin fitting out their individual premises – of which there are nine in total – ahead of opening early next year.

The four restaurant brands already announced – Loungers, world buffet Cosmo,  the Mexican-themed Iguanas and the Italian, Zizzi – will join a cocktail bar containing four independently-run ‘street food’ outlets and an Arc Cinema and Hollywood Bowl within the long-awaited new city landmark.

While estate management company Sanderson Weatherall will oversee the next phase of the development, the city council will itself ultimately assume full responsibility for the site after the handover, which is expected to take place on 28th October.

The authority has had to take an urgent decision to ensure the funding is in place to keep the plot secure during the fit-out period.

An unspecified amount has been transferred from the town hall’s earmarked reserves and capital programme in order to cover the costs of – amongst other things – security fencing, security guards and fire safety measures.   The cash will also be used to spruce up the area between Animate and the Market Hall, which is set to be opened to the public.

According to a notice published outlining the reasons for the decision, the “outstanding cost items” have only been “recently…identified” – but are deemed crucial to the next stage of delivering the development.

REDUCING RISKS

The fencing and guards that require funding are described as being necessary to avoid the otherwise “high security risk” that would be posed if visitors and deliveries to the site were not “managed effectively”.

“The building would also be vulnerable to unauthorised access with risks of theft from contractors and rough sleepers accessing the building,” the decision notice states.

The LDRS understands the cost incurred relates to fencing already in place – some of which has recently been changed, giving passers-by on the market side of the site a glimpse inside the development – which will then become the council’s responsibility to maintain.  The authority will also have to provide its own guards as of next week.

Meanwhile, items identified as ‘landlord equipment’ are required to ensure the site can be secured, health and safety and evacuation procedures met and legislation complied with.  Without the necessary measures in place – which were not covered in the construction contract – the building may not be able to fulfil the planning conditions that have to be discharged before it can open.

‘Fire stations’ also need to be put in place in order to ensure insurance can be obtained for the site during the next phase of work.

The decision document warns that if funding is not approved to improve the appearance of the space between Animate and the Market Hall, the area will “not match the same high standards of the newly completed building” – creating a risk to the council’s reputation.

Some of the funding is in the form of ‘cashflow’ which will ultimately be recoverable from tenants via service charges.

Deputy city council leader Martyn Rawlinson took the urgent decision on Monday as the finance was needed immediately in order to ensure “appropriate arrangements” could be made ahead of the fitting-out phase.