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The winning bid was attributed to Proton’s history, location, university and its administrative responsibilities. The overall population has seen a reasonable rate of growth since 2001. The latest figure for 2012 gives a population total or the authority of approve. 140,500 although it’s wider built- up area contains more than 31 3,000 people. The city has entertained various development proposals the most notable of which was a Emma city centre regeneration initiative known as the “Preston Tibetan”, a joint venture between Grooves and Lend Lease Corporation in partnership with Preston City Council.
The Preston Tibetan project was to cover an area of approximately 32 acres (13 ha) in Preston city centre and include a John Lewis department store, a new Marks and Spencer department store, revivalists markets, restaurants, cafes, new multiplex cinemas, around 00 new shops, offices, homes, refurbished Guild Hall, a new bus station and extensive new public spaces and pedestrians streets. In November 2011 the Tibetan scheme was abandoned when John Lewis withdrew support.
Proton’s university the University of Central Lancashire (UCLA) is a world renowned educational establishment with a number of world leading and internationally recognized research departments. The university has a student enrollment of over 32,000 making it one of the largest university campuses in the United Kingdom. Preston College is said to be one of the largest colleges in England and has two campuses in the city. Cardinal Newman is a Catholic sixth form college situated on a campus just a few minutes walking from Preston city centre.
The city centre is strong and vibrant during the day with ranging estimates of circa 60,000 to 90,000 visitors per day (mainly retail, employment, education and service visits). Even the lower of this footfall figure gives a significant am to pm population, making it one of the strongest centers in the North-West Region. Indeed any centre in the I-J that demonstrates daytime activity of 15 million plus is generally regarded as ‘ripe’ for considered ‘evening orientated’ leisure placement, usually anchored by cinemas (this includes shopping centers and town/city centers).
Currently between pm and pm Preston rapidly empties of most pedestrian presence and little commercial activity takes place. However, after pm the clubs and pubs become very active with mainly male younger patrons. This has become a feature of the Preston night time economy and is seen as a deterrent to other demographic groups regularly using the city centre in the evening (particularly family groups, mature adults and adolescents). There are many who correlate the exit of cinemas in the ate sass’s to out of town locations as being a factor in this ‘new reality.
Page 5 of 89 The Guild Hall is frequently used and largely populated by older audiences but it is apparent with these patrons that on the conclusion of most evening shows they quickly exit the centre of the city. Overall, like many other I-J (and indeed international) town/city centers, Preston has suffered a significant decline in both retail activity and a vibrant universally accessible and agreeable evening leisure economy. Traditional high streets have been under attack from a variety of sources over the last two to three decades including:
The growth of out of town retail, coupled with 24 hour online trading The loss of town centre cinemas to ‘out of town’ retail and leisure parks The growth in internet trade Weak consumer demand – the combined effects of the credit crunch from 2007 leading to a prolonged period of recession High occupancy costs Car parking issues Change in demographics and disposable income per age group A largely ‘alcohol fuelled/ binge drinking’ evening economy which deters the use of town/city centers for other evening users. This has resulted in a general decline in the traditional high street, which spite high profile campaigns to redesign itself e. . Mary Portals campaigns, has struggled to recover. According to the ‘Retail Futures 2018’ report created by the Centre for Retail Research the footfall on high streets in the I-J has gone down 14% from 2007 to 2010. The UK leads the way by having the highest percentage of online retail sales. This is forecast to continue with the online retail sales predicted to raise from 12. 7% (2012) to 21. 5% by 2018. The opportunity therefore is to reinvigorate a town/city by introducing a more leisure and entertainment led experience, which will in turn attract associated commerce such as restaurants and cafes.
This will, as in many other centers, create a more social atmosphere attractive to all, especially families and mature adults. This study has been commissioned by Preston City Council (PC) to investigate the opportunity for a cinema anchored leisure led development that could in part or largely reinvigorate Preston city centre and restore its position as the social hub of the city. Decide Consulting (K) Ltd Page 6 of 89 12. Objectives PC is exploring options to regenerate the city centre of Preston with a reticular focus on a cinema led development.
Along with major shopping centre groups and town / city centers throughout the UK a leisure development and active engagement with the evening economy is now regarded as a fundamental building block, indeed foundation, to a strategy that embraces an 1 8 hour economy. Decide Consulting have been engaged to undertake the following investigations providing PC with background information and cinema industry data to assist with its deliberations and arrive at a strategy to create a significant leisure destination in the city centre. The primary objectives of this study are:
Ascertain market potential for a cinema in the commercial heart of Preston using cinema market knowledge and similar case studies to identify possible admission potential for cinemas in Preston city centre Establish which location in the city centre offers the potential for the location of a cinema and associated leisure facilities in line with possible admission potential Investigate existing buildings and land particularly within the council estate for use as cinema Suggest the most effective solutions for developing a modern multiplex facility on or within the preferred location
Provide tech Nicola input into the design requirements of introducing a cinema at the preferred location if required by a developer or PC within the course of this study period to 30th of September 2014 Prepare notional financial appraisals on various scenarios to give an understanding of commercial considerations and to advise the Council on the most effective and efficient use of Council resources (including land and financial contribution) in order to secure delivery of a town centre cinema and associated leisure facilities Explore the potential for any additional economic, cultural, social or environmental benefits that new digital technology in cinemas can offer In order to achieve this, Decide have undertaken the following enquiries and analyses: 1) Market study of the overall cinema market and SOOT analyses of the existing supply 2) Using a variety of methodologies commonly used by various cinema operators to arrive at possible forecasts for admissions potential.
Relate those possible admissions forecasts to various cinema sizes and models 3) Give “notional” financial appraisals on a range of models with a particular emphasis on underlying profitability and thus ability to sustain rental and other property costs age 7 of 89 4) Review likely “on-going’ benefits of cinema to a city centre location a. Commercial (restaurants, retail, leisure) b. Social (conferencing, education, community etc. ) 5) Together with PC’s planning and development teams identify possible opportunities in Preston 6) Discussions with land owners/ or potential developers 7) Industry Comments – provide a report of the UK cinema industry commenting on a. New Cinema Models b. Film Supply Relevant Studies d.