Harris Institute is struggling with increasing fly-tipping and vandalism

The vandalism has led to calls for a quick decision on a planning application that aims to bring the 175-year-old heritage site back into use – after ten years of neglect – as an art gallery, conference center and co-working space.

The blueprint – which includes the conversion of the adjacent Regent House building into nine holiday homes – was submitted to Preston City Council in June. The LDRS can reveal the proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the authority’s planning committee in December. It is understood the process involved consultation with Historic England, which had already placed the building on the risk list.

For John Turner, president of the Friends of the Harris School of Art, certainty about the future of the site cannot come soon enough.

‘The longer they leave it, the worse it gets. If there is anyone who has money to invest, let him/her move on,” he said.

The former arts college, which was for a time managed by the University Of Central Lancashire, was last used as the Darul Aloom Islamic Institution before being abandoned in 2014. The school is now controlled by Bolton-based Harris Investment Group Limited, the strong behind the conversion plans.

Commenting on the damage to – and rubbish left at – the property, company director Peter Wu said: “We are carrying out routine checks on the building and have inspected the damaged paving stone and can confirm that this does not allow access to the building.

“The front door was allegedly seen open as authorized surveyors and contractors were going to and from the building.

“We are eagerly awaiting approval of our planning application and starting work to restore the Harris Institute to its former glory.”

The latest security scare comes almost two years after unauthorized access – gained under a previous owner – allowed the building to be turned into a cannabis farm.

Preserving the past

Arson is an ever-present threat to vacant and historically significant properties, a concern that has become even more acute in Preston following a spate of fires in the city center in recent years. including at St. Joseph’s Orphanage and the former Odeon cinema.

The risk of a similar fate befalling the iconic Park Hotel in Miller Park prompted Preston City Council this month waive a claim on a potential future cash contribution for affordable housing to remove a barrier to the restoration of the building as part of a new apartment complex.

In the wake of this week’s incident at the Harris Institute, the authority said it is doing everything it can to protect a range of heritage assets in the city.

A spokesperson told the LDRS: “The council is in regular contact with building owners to ensure buildings are safe and inaccessible – and to protect buildings of heritage value, including listed buildings.

“Vandalism and anti-social behavior are common around these buildings and a multi-departmental and multi-agency approach is being taken, including working with the police. We have taken enforcement action where necessary and are quickly addressing urgent issues, such as those highlighted in Avenham.

“The long-term solution is to get these buildings back into productive use, but there are major viability issues preventing this. We are working with a number of developers to help them realize plans and have recently granted planning permission for two of them. We are confident that these will be delivered, but it will take time.

“There are some excellent examples of listed buildings in the Winckley Square area that have been converted by the private sector for high-quality residential and commercial use and the City Living Strategy has had a significant positive impact by attracting investment and sensitive restoration.”

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