A DERELICT Preston landmark looks set to get a new lease of life - as a community, sports and IT facility.

St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, pictured, has been closed for the past 15 years and, due to population shifts in the area, has been declared redundant by the diocese.

Surveys indicated that it would cost around £2 million to restore the church - an amount impossible for the community to raise.

The owners of the property, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, have been striving for a solution for more than a decade and, more recently, set up a redevelopment trust to investigate the possibilities for the site.

And after 18 months of consultation with residents, Preston Borough Council, English Heritage and other professional bodies, plans have been draw up to demolish the main body of the church, preserving the twin towers and portico.

A community, sports and IT centre will be built behind the towers and portico with funding from PBC's Single Regeneration Budget, Sport England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and private sponsorship.

Simon Thorrington, secretary to the Lancaster Diocesan Trustees, said: "We believe that the current scheme will bring new life into Avenham, fulfilling the mission of the church in a very similar way to more than 150 years ago, when the parish was created.

"We have been in negotiations with potential funders for some time and are reasonably confident of getting it."

Fr Michael Murphy, parish priest at St Augustine's, said: "I'm thrilled at the prospect of such a project, which will bring life to the community and take our parish into the next Millennium."

Planning applications for the project are due to be lodged with Preston Council soon.

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