The 'Garden of Lancashire' hanging onto its picturesque past - but the shadow of a 'superprison' could change everything
Walking through Leyland town centre as a visitor is a slightly strange experience. With a Tesco superstore in the middle, the area is fragmented and somewhat spread-out.
Inside the market, the full occupancy bucks a trend seen in many similar attractions. Based within a former Leyland Motors factory, the market is packed with businesses including a butcher, fishmonger, zero waste shop, clothes stalls and a cafe. The market is set to be one of the beneficiaries of a £25m Town Deal fund awarded to South Ribble Borough Council to carry out what it describes as radical changes to the town centre.
She said: “I’ve lived in Leyland for forty-plus years and it’s good. It’s changed a lot, there’s a lot more houses. [The market plans] are bringing more people into the town so that’s a good thing.” Mirella said she took on the market stall with the hope of being in place for the long term. That still leaves space for football pitches, while the Grade II listed Worden Hall has undergone a £2.8m refurbishment and will soon host weddings and functions. Further improvements are planned and the attraction will again receive an influx of visitors during events such as Music in the Park and the Leyland Festival.
But while many are excited about what’s to come, fears surround the influx of new housing in the area and whether there are resources to cope. A comment frequently made to LancsLive when we spent time in the town centre was that there are simply too many homes being built. Away from the centre and the sprawling new estates, Leyland still has some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. In the Seven Stars area, 59.6% of households were classed as “deprived” , in the 2021 census. That figure had fallen from 63.7% in 2011 but showcases where work needs to be done to improve the lives and prospects of those living there.
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