New railway station faces funding shortfall

The Cottam Parkway in Preston was first mooted a decade ago

Only about half the funding needed to build a new railway station in suburban Lancashire is currently available for the long-planned project.

The Cottam Parkway in Preston was first mooted a decade ago to serve the rapidly-growing population of the north-west of the city.

Earmarked for land between Lea Road and Sidgreaves Lane, it would offer passengers journey times of five minutes into Preston city centre and 20 minutes to Blackpool.

Cost estimates in 2020 put a price tag of £24m on the new station and accompanying park and ride, but the Local Democracy Reporting Service has learned that the bill has since doubled to more than £55m.

The Treasury announced last week that it was allocating £28.4m to Lancashire County Council (LCC) to deliver the scheme - located on the South Fylde line - subject to approval of a business case.

It followed the completion of the Labour government's spending review, which was published last month.

The shortfall - driven at least in part by inflation - means the project is still stuck in the sidings.

'Situation is a mess'

It is understood that the station is at an advanced stage of design and work could begin quickly if the funding could be found in full.

County councillor John Potter, who represents the Preston West division – within which the station would be built – said the situation was "a mess".

"This just sounds like another [instance] where residents are expecting something, then a whole load of delays happen – and then the excuses seem to come forward," he said.

"So we need to get to the truth of which figure is right when it comes to the cost."

Potter added: "We cannot allow North West Preston to just be homes and not have the infrastructure it requires."

Funding was previously allocated for the Cottam Parkway project via the last government's Transforming Cities Fund back in 2020.

LCC was awarded £40m for a series of schemes, with £22.3m earmarked for the new suburban station, with a further £2.1m due to be contributed from the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal – the government-backed plan to deliver the infrastructure needed to facilitate the building of 17,000 new homes in the wider area.

However, it is unclear whether – and how – the tranche of cash intended for the station was ultimately used, or even whether the money announced by the Treasury last week is a renouncement of any part of the Transforming Cities Fund allocation.

LCC has been approached for comment.