IN PICTURES | Preston Bus Station designs overhauled
Plans for the development of a £13m arts facility for young people as an extension to the grade two-listed Preston Bus Station have been revised, with the latest designs showing Preston Youth Zone Plus occupying a standalone building next to the Brutalist station.
New York-based John Puttick Associates was named in June 2015 as the winner of the architectural competition to design the Youth Zone and oversee £10m of improvement works to the station. Artist’s impressions released at the time showed the youth facility built onto the existing façade of the station and occupying space within.
See below for gallery of revised designs + details of public consultation
A statement from Lancashire County Council said that amends had been made “taking into account the aspirations of Historic England and The 20th Century Society”. It is understood that the organisations did not want to see a new building attached to the existing structure of the station.
“The youth zone will now ensure a clearer view of the grade two-listed building, with a revised shape and separation from the bus station structure. The proposed changes will also help to reduce the running costs of the youth zone.”
Unlike the earlier plans, there will no longer be any space within the Bus Station occupied by the Youth Zone. Instead, the existing bus and coach facilities will remain, occupying more than half of the ground floor, and will be refurbished. The multi-storey car park in the floors above will be repaired and preserved.
A plot of land on the Guild Hall side will be developed into a new public area, linking to the recent improvements along Fishergate and around Church Street.
A planning application will be put in later this year, subject to approval from the county council’s cabinet on 9 June. The earliest that work could start on site is mid-September, subject to planning approval, with completion in early 2019.
As an independent charity, Preston Youth Zone will be delivered as a result of a combination of public, private and voluntary sector support led by OnSide Youth Zones, a charity dedicated to providing modern youth facilities based on the model of the Bolton Lads & Girls Club. Preston Youth Zone will contribute £1m towards the construction costs with Lancashire County Council investing £5m.
A public consultation on the plans is taking place from today at stands 3 and 4 of Preston Bus Station:
- Thursday 19 May from 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Friday 20 May from 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Saturday 21 May from 8:30am to 12:30pm
A feedback form is also available to comment online until 5pm on Wednesday 25 May.
Click any image below to launch gallery
- John Puttick associates' plans in June 2015 were for an extension to the Bus Station
- New designs released this week show the Youth Zone as a separate block
why is that the images and designs used to win the project get changed to such an extent it looks nothing like the competion stage and that includes the public realm elements! the needs of Historic England and The 20th Century Society were well know before it all started.
By Alan Davies
So, Preston is going to get another building of little or no architectural merit. Is anyone else not surprised?
By Dave Ball