A proposed £700m scheme to transform Preston city centre, has received the support of Lancashire County Council's (LCC) three main party leaders.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, an open letter from Conservative council leader Geoff Driver, Labour's Jennifer Mein and Charlie Briggs of the Liberal Democrats have signalled their backing for the Tithebarn development. The newspaper quoted the letter as saying: "The development would be located in Preston city centre, a highly sustainable location, where strong rail and bus networks are already in place, a new transport interchange is planned, with green travel plans limiting the impact of new car-borne traffic."

A new cinema, cafés, bars and a new bus station are included as part of the project, which was approved by Preston City Council (PCC) but will now be subject to a public inquiry. PCC is working in partnership with developer Lend Lease on the scheme, despite the withdrawal of property company Grosvenor in October 2009.