Ribbleton set to receive £20m Pride in Place funding for regeneration
Preston neighbourhood joins national list of investment beneficiaries
Government funding is commencing for Ribbleton, Preston, as part of a decade-long, £20 million investment from the Pride in Place Fund designed to improve local life and regeneration efforts.
Ribbleton, inclusive of Moor Nook and Grange, was among 169 areas nationwide selected as beneficiaries of the fund last year and will receive an average of £2 million annually for the next 10 years.
Regeneration projects for community enrichment
The allocated funding can be directed towards various community projects, such as high street restorations, park enhancements, and revitalizing pubs, leisure centres, and community halls.
An initial £150,000 payment has been accepted by Preston City Council's cabinet to initiate community engagement and development of the neighbourhood board, which will guide the delivery of schemes funded by the total investment.
Chaired by an independent figure—a role to be determined by both the local authority and Preston MP Sir Mark Hendrick—the board aims to reflect local priorities determined by Ribbleton residents.
Timeline for implementation
The neighbourhood board and its chair must be constituted by mid-July 2026, with plans for utilizing the decade-long funding required to be submitted for government assessment by the end of November.
A preliminary £390,000 will be issued for the 2026/27 financial year to implement "quick win projects" prior to annual payments starting in 2027/28. Across the investment period, funds will be divided into 63 percent capital and 37 percent revenue, aiding the development and ongoing delivery of new or improved facilities.
As the accountable body, the city council will manage the fund's use, even though the council itself is scheduled to be abolished by April 2028 in favor of a new governing body as yet undetermined.