£40m cinema and leisure scheme lined up for approval

Plans for a multimillion-pound cinema and leisure complex in Preston have taken a step forward after the project was recommended for approval.The new development, called Animate’, will be located on the site of the former indoor market and will feature an eight-screen cinema and bowling alley.It will also include five new restaurants and bars, a street-food hub, a car park, and new public square.The council said the £40m scheme will bring growth and development to the city centre. The authority said it would also bring in more than £7m of extra economic activity every year while creating 125 full time jobs.Approval with conditions has now been recommended for the application brought forward by Maple Grove Development, part of the Eric Wright Group, and Preston City Council.The announcement comes after councillors voted to approve a Development and Funding Agreement (DFA) for the project. Under the DFA, around £3.5m for the development will come from Preston’s £20.9m Towns Deal, a further £3.25m from the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, and the remainder from Preston City Council. The land and buildings will be owned by the council and leased to the site operators.