New hotels set to check into Preston

A pair of hotels could soon be created at two historic sites in Preston, it has been revealed.Developer Signature Living, whose portfolio includes the Shankly Hotel and 30 James Street Hotel in Liverpool, is buying Preston’s grade II-listed former Post Office building with a view to converting it into a ‘blue-ribbon boutique hotel’.It is expected that the deal will bring millions of pounds of new investment into Preston city centre.Meanwhile, a deal has been approved between Lancashire County Pension Fund and Lancashire County Council to transfer the former Park Hotel overlooking Miller Park to the pension fund, which would finance a redevelopment of the site. The multimillion-pound scheme would create a luxury hotel, offices for the pension fund, and a spa facility.The plans include the demolition of the 1960s office block on the site and replacement with a new building that would extend the hotel, providing high-quality conference and office facilities. Discussions have been taking place with a preferred hotel operator about running the new hotel, although ownership of the site would remain with the pension fund.Planning permission would be needed for the site to become a hotel and an application is expected to be submitted shortly to Preston City Council.The pension fund’s investment would provide the necessary capital to develop the site from a £100m fund specifically identified for projects within Lancashire.The site is currently owned and used by Lancashire County Council, but will become surplus to requirements as the council reduces the number of buildings it owns as part of its savings programme.