Preston needs a skyline to shout about

4:13pm Monday 7th January 2008

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THE real test of a new city and how far its development has come can be done by looking at its skyline.

Currently, Preston does not really have a skyline worth mentioning.

There is no Liver Building, or City of Manchester Stadium.

Instead there are a number of apartment blocks and if you look from the right angle, the impressive Harris Museum and surrounding landmarks.

In November we heard from one of Preston's richest families who are hoping to spearheard a £100 million project to construct a 19 storey city centre building on the former Tradex site.

This has caused a lot of controversy.

Many people are worried that it is not the correct location - the area is within the proposed Tithebarn development, and there are arguments that this far into the planning of Tithebarn, it should not be interrupted.

But the idea itself is sound.

The proposed building, whether it goes head or not, could become a landmark for Preston and indeed the whole of central Lancashire and further afield.

Look at the plaudits that have been won by the Beetham Tower in Manchester, home to a Hilton Hotel and apartments.

A landmark building can come to represent the regeneration and financial prosperity of an area.

I only hope that a solution can be found to allow a project of this scale to go ahead in a way that satisfies everybody, and that it does not become bogged down in administrative and financial delays like Tithebarn has.