Preston Bus Station public square gets under way

The restoration of the site around Preston’s brutalist bus station will complete by the end of the year with contractor Engie now on site carrying out the last package of public realm works.

The last phase of works focusses on the bus station’s western apron to create a public square and landscaping; this is bound by Tithebarn Street to its western end. Works will include granite flagging, raised planters, lighting columns, landscaping, and street furniture.

Part of this will replace a previously-approved £8m Youth Zone building, which was approved in 2017 but has since been scrapped by Lancashire County Council.

The public space will be used as a focal point for pedestrians and potentially events, with the possibility of hosting open-air concerts with the capacity for up to 4,400 people.

Engie, which also carried out the restoration of the bus station’s grade two-listed structure, is on board to deliver the square and is expected to complete the project by December 2019. The contractor previously delivered improvements and a new coach station on the site’s eastern end.

The professional team also includes Cassidy + Ashton and Planit-IE.

Preston Bus Station Square 2

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So pleased the youth zone building has been dropped – what an oddly conceived addition to the elegance of the bus station. The public realm will look great.

By Bradford

Please could you let me know if this scheme will include tackling the problem of Tithebarn Street which runs alongside between this site and St Johns Shopping Centre. There is a map on the bus station itself indicating that buses only are allowed to travel the full length of Tithebarn Street down to the Guild Hall but this is not the case at present with speeding cars presenting an obvious danger to bus station users. If general traffic is allowed to continue to use this stretch it will have a detrimental impact on this excellent-looking scheme.

By Tony Dilworth

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