Fulwood has expanded in the 20th century, and has been popular with housing and business developers, with its close links to the M6 and M55 motorways. Since the 1970s when the
Central Lancashire New Town was proposed, large sites have been made available for development, such as Longsands, which is a residential area, and "East Preston", where many businesses are currently located, including the
Lancashire Evening Post (LEP),
Asda,
Royal Mail sorting office, Independent Inspections, Xchanging,
CPC,
EDS and Holiday Inn. The B6241 (Eastway) provides a vital route, bypassing much of the residential and central areas of Preston, and a road via Longsands connects it to the
M6 motorway (at junction 31A which was opened in the 1990s) and the Bluebell Way business park on the boundary with
Brookfield. It is also the home of the
Royal Preston Hospital,
Sharoe Green Hospital was also in Fulwood until its closure in 2004.
Fulwood Barracks has been the home of the
Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, and other regiments, and is the site of the
Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum. A notable former resident was
Major John Rouse Merriott Chard, of the
Royal Engineers,
V.C., officer commanding at
Rorke's Drift in 1879. He was posted to Preston between 1887 and 1892, and is recorded in the 1891 Census living at 80 Victoria Road, Fulwood. Since the mass migration of Indians, Fulwood has been a popular place of residence for well-known, and wealthy families of the
Vora Patel community, many of whom have resided here for several generations. Many families of this community amassed great wealths during the economic prosperity of the textiles industry in Northern England and, to this day, retain much of their wealth and have bought many of Lancashire's historic properties. == Architecture ==