Thousands of new jobs and homes three years into Lancashire City deal

The city deal has already helped to create more than 11,489 new jobs and deliver more than 2,614 new homes across the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City deal area.

Since the agreement three years ago, nearly £46 million of public and private sector capital has been invested across Preston and South Ribble to help deliver the changes.

Progress has already been made on the major road projects: the Broughton Bypass is entering the final stages of construction, and planning applications could be decided later this year for the Penwortham Bypass and the Preston Western Distributor.

The £434 million city deal will help to create more than 20,000 new private sector jobs by 2023, and see over 17,000 new homes built in Preston and South Ribble over the next 10 years.

Over the next three years it is anticipated that millions of pounds of investment will be made in infrastructure themes, supporting the completion of thousands of new homes as well as new commercial and leisure floor space.

In addition to creating new jobs and homes, the deal’s key priorities include improved cycling and walking routes, sports pitches, parks and open space in North West Preston, and the Central Parks scheme in South Ribble. Health services and leisure facilities are an integral part of the deal.

Schemes coming in the next year include a new cycleway to improve Tom Benson Way, a new City Transport Plan and the development of masterplans for areas of the city - all with the aim of helping people to get around and access employment opportunities.

The latest figures are included in the annual monitoring report produced by the city deal, which details progress so far and helps to inform and improve the delivery of the programme.

The city deal is an agreement between Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, long with the central government and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).