However, as the number of court cases in Preston grew, it became necessary to commission a more substantial courthouse for both criminal and civil matters.

The site selected by the Lord Chancellor's Department was occupied by the Saul Street Public Baths which had been built in 1936.

[2] The current combined court centre building was designed by Alistair Sutherland of architects Austin-Smith:Lord, built in red brick and glass and was opened in 1996.

[3] The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage of 15 bays facing onto Ringway, curving round towards Saul Street and, connected by a glass entrance section, meeting another section of five bays also facing onto Ringway but set back from the road.

The glass entrance section, which featured columns supporting a canopy and a brick drum-shaped structure, led to a full-height atrium.