A NEW £1m pound shopping precinct, due to open next month, is already half full.

The site, next to Market Walk, is called Flat Iron Parade and three of the six units have already being let.

Global Video will move into two units and the third will be occupied by the Children's Society. Both hope to be open by the middle of next month to catch the Christmas season.

A mobile phone company and health food firm are also in negotiations regarding the other three outlets.

The development has been built by BI Properties on the site of the old gas showroom which overlooks the main car park.

A spokesperson for Bailey Deakin and Hamilton, chartered surveyors of Preston, said: We are very pleased with the progress we have made. By already letting three units we have effectively filled half of the property before it opens."

Market Walk, owned by Boots Properties, will soon have a full house for the first time since it opened nearly a year-and-a-half-ago.

The building giant is currently in negotiations with a hardware store and hopes soon to have a new card store to fill the premises left by Strand Cards. The British Heart Foundation charity shop is also believed to be moving into Market Walk.

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