Preston’s well-known bus station – originally opened in 1969 – has reopened following a two-year, £19m refurbishment.
A period-correct restoration has been carried out, reintroducing the ‘original materials and colour palette’ – even incorporating 1960s-style signage with the British Rail typeface.
Three 1960s buses were present at the reopening, celebrating the building’s 50-year heritage. The Grade II-listed building was previously slated for demolition as part of the City Council’s Tithebarn redevelopment project, which later collapsed.
A further attempt to demolish the building in 2012 led to The Twentieth Century Society applying for listed building status, which was finally granted in 2013 – securing the building’s future.
The renovation was announced by the City Council in 2014, and it was John Puttick Associates’ design which won the contract; work began on the building in 2016.
Speaking to the Lancashire Post, architect John said of the project: “I am really pleased with it. It’s much better, it’s much cleaner and I hope everybody feels it is a big improvement. It feels like a really safe public building and that’s really good.
“It is a project that has been debated for a long time before I became involved and people have strong feelings about this building one way or the other.
“There were always going to be some problems to deliver it. It’s been a challenge keeping the building operational while we did the work. The bus station has never closed and there has only been about a quarter of it worked on at a time. But I’m really happy with the way it has turned out. I’m really proud of this – it’s fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Angie Ridgwell, Lancashire County Council Interim Chief Executive, commented: “Only a few years ago this building was at risk of demolition, but I have learned how important it is – not only to the people of Preston, but also architectural critics across the globe who are fascinated by its unique Brutalist architecture.”
Project Manager Andrew Barrow added: “It’s been challenging in that we were dealing with a listed structure and all the restrictions that brings with it.
“It never closed throughout the work, from the day we started in September 2016 to June this year when we completed the work. It was logistically difficult, but we got there.”
