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UK – Preston’s tallest tower wants to host £10m hotel casino

By - 12 December 2016

Preston’s 15-storey Guild Tower, the Lancashire town’s tallest tower, could be transformed into a £10m hotel, casino and spa having been given the green light by the city council.

Chief architect Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP), has designed the which includes a 105-room aparthotel, a 900 sq m casino on the first floor and a 500 sq m spa and leisure area.
The tower will be renamed Villa Urban

Seb Salisbury, architect at FWP, said: “We are delighted our plans for the Guild Tower have been approved and we look forward to delivering this ambitious and visionary regeneration scheme to transform this part of Preston city centre. We’re already seeing that take shape in the way it is breathing new life into the Guild Hall and the start of a new Market Quarter nearby. These are exciting times for Preston and Villa Urban simply adds to the conviction that positive things are happening in the city centre.

“We have designed a stylish mixed-use development with a modern aparthotel that will attract visitors into the city centre, along with a casino and spa and gym facilities that are also designed to complement Guild Hall complex’s role as a 21st-century leisure destination.”

The basement and ground floor levels of the tower will be truned into a 10-pin bowling alley, nine-hole crazy golf course, karaoke booths and a sports bar.

Mr. Salisbury added: “The Guild Tower is currently unloved and poorly used in the context of the surrounding buildings and public realm. Our masterplan will revitalise this part of the city centre and will complement the significant improvements to the bus station and surrounding area.

“The Guild Hall complex needs more uses and better connectivity to once again become a venue that is very close to the hearts of many Prestonians. In all our designs and concepts we are committed to breathing new life into what had become a tired building.”
The Guild Hall is owned by multi-millionaire Simon Rigby, who has already applied for a gaming licence.

He said: “The aim is to make this place a real entertainment complex and have all sorts of different activities on offer. We think it would be right for Preston have a casino and the Guild Hall is a great place for it. Preston is a city and why shouldn’t it have a casino.”

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