Transforming Friargate North and Ringway, aims to boost connectivity by bus, rail and active travel such as cycling and walking in Preston City Centre.

Designed to encourage people moving between the university and the Harris Quarter by regenerating the area and joining up both sides of the city. By bringing it up to date with other modern cities, we aim to make this area an attractive destination for residents and visitors to enjoy, generating more potential customers for businesses particularly along the northern end of Friargate.

About the scheme

The scheme includes:

  • A new signal controlled crossing point, public realm improvements and bus interchange stops at the Friargate/Ringway junction and Peace Garden area.
  • Vehicle access at the Ringway-Friargate junction will be removed
  • Pedestrianisation of Friargate between Ringway and Marsh Lane with access for service and delivery vehicles at restricted times of the day
  • Creating a pedestrian and cycle friendly space with high quality paving, trees, and other features such as public seating, space for outdoor markets and alfresco dining opportunities
  • Closing part of Corporation Street to general traffic and creating a bus gate to give priority to buses at the junction. allowing buses, Hackney carriages and authorised vehicles through freely whilst discouraging other vehicles
  • Improvements to the junction of Corporation Street and Ringway to provide better crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
  • New cycle paths along Ringway to help cyclists connect between the University, the railway station, the bus station and beyond as safely as possible
  • A new cycle path along Butler Street between Avenham and Miller Parks and the railway station

Regeneration of Friargate North

  • Like the southern end of Friargate, removing traffic all day except for a short window for deliveries will create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Improved street scene with high quality paving, seating and tree planting will create a pleasant environment for people to sit, relax, shop and enjoy
  • Regeneration of the street will encourage more people to use it, and help to generate more potential customers for businesses in the area
  • Opportunities for businesses to provide outdoor seating for eating and drinking
  • New spaces for outdoor markets and live events

Transforming Ringway Junction

  • Reconnecting the city either side of Ringway by upgrading the crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians
  • Opening up and improving the look and feel of this area will make it an attractive place to visit for leisure and shopping
  • New secure cycle parking and facilities to encourage more people to come into town on their bikes
  • New bus stops at the junction to service this area and make it easier for people to get here by bus
  • Encouraging people who are just passing through to choose more suitable routes other than directly through the city centre will enhance the experience for local residents and shoppers

Restrictions and changes to traffic movement

Increased priority is to be given to public transport and new cycle paths are to be constructed on key routes. This will require Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to change permitted vehicle movements, parking and waiting restrictions in and around the city centre. 

Friargate and Orchard Street

Restriction of access to permit holders during the daytime is to remain. Friargate is proposed to be closed to all traffic (except cycles) at the Peace Garden/Shopmobility car park with no access through to Ringway. Orchard Street one-way is to be reversed to maintain through routes and access to businesses in the area.

Fleet Street and Lune Street

Existing goods loading and limited waiting bays on Fleet Street to be amended locally with hours to be 8am - 8pm. Outside these hours these are to be taxi parking to replace taxi bays to be removed on Friargate. Lune Street access to shopmobility parking is to be made 2-way (currently one-way exit only) with the existing Friargate entrance being closed to traffic.

Friargate (north of Ringway) and surrounding streets

Friargate, between Ringway and Union Street, to be closed to all traffic, except cycles. Between Union Street and Marsh Lane, Friargate vehicles will be prohibited, except cycles, outside of limited servicing hours (6am-10am) with traffic running one-way (northbound) from Union Street to Marsh Lane.

One-way, restricted hours opening will be implemented on the adjoining Union Street and the ends of Hill Street and Heatley Street. Waiting and loading will be prohibited except in marked loading bays to service local businesses.

North of its junction with Marsh Lane, Friargate will continue one-way (open 24/7) in a northbound direction to its junction with Great Shaw Street/Market Street West and 2-way from thereon. Existing limited waiting and loading bays will be retained with night-time use amended to taxi parking to replace bays displaced from the southern section.

Marsh Lane will remain one-way but reversed in direction to run west-to-east from Corporation Street to Friargate, maintaining access to properties and car parking during prohibited hours on Friargate and integrating with changes to Corporation Street.

Waiting and loading prohibitions will be introduced on Hope Street, Edward Street, Marsh Lane, Heatley Street and Hill Street on the approaches to their junctions with Friargate to prevent businesses parking and servicing their shops from these locations and obstructing the carriageway outside of the 6am-10am servicing hours.

Corporation Street and surrounding area

Changes to Friargate will require the displacement of bus stops and routes to the parallel Corporation Street. To prioritise bus services, and encourage the use of public transport, a bus gate (bus only street) is proposed between Heatley Street and Marsh Lane in both directions. This will restrict its use over this length to buses, cycles and taxis.

To prevent general traffic using alternative routes (rat-running) on local roads which don't have the capacity or character for significant increases in traffic a number of one-way routes are proposed. These have been planned to ensure local residents and businesses retain accessibility, without creating by-passes to the bus gate for north-south traffic to and from the city centre.

These include:

  • Marsh Lane (west to east)
  • Bowran Street and Mount Pleasant (north to south)
  • Heatley Street (except cycles) from Ladywell Street to Chandler Street

Preparations for the new 'bus gate' on Corporation Street are well underway. We will let people know in plenty of time when it comes into effect, so that people will have more details about it and how it may affect their journey. Find out more in our news release: Preparations for new 'bus gate' in Preston city centre are well underway (lancashire.gov.uk)

Friargate bus gate map

Maudland Bank, Wellfield Road and Ashton Street

Similar to the proposed TROs on roads surrounding Corporation Street, a one-way section from south to north is proposed on Maudland Bank, from Maudland Road to Pedder Street to discourage rat-running on local streets.

Ashton Street and Wellfield Road are a north-south route which will remain open in both directions, approximately ½ km west of Corporation Street.

It is expected that, without intervention, traffic on this route will increase. It is proposed to install speed cushions at approximately to calm traffic through this area.

Traffic regulation order plans

The traffic regulation orders will be advertised between 4th November and 2nd December 2022. More information about Traffic Regulation Orders and how to comment or object.

Plans, maps and designs

Why we are doing this

As part of our ambitions for Lancashire's future prosperity, we are looking carefully at how we can plan our local infrastructure to serve the changing needs of our residents and businesses. This means ensuring that we integrate new technologies and support sustainability and active travel options when designing our roads and urban areas. There will be more emphasis applied to the needs of all road users where previously private vehicles were given more prominence.

Find out more information about all the projects which are part of the Transforming Cities Fund

If you have any specific queries, please email us at: TransformingFNR@lancashire.gov.uk