40 Buildings Saved

5. Preston Bus Station

Status: Listed Grade II
Architect: Building Design Partnership with Ove Arup & Partners
Owners: Preston City Council
Location: Tithebarn Street, Preston

Background

Designed by Keith Ingham and Charles Wilson of Building Design Partnership, with engineers Ove Arup and Partners, Preston Bus Station’s vast 170-metre-long concrete structure (1968-69) made it the largest bus station in Europe.

Threat

Preston did not become the economic centre that had been anticipated and the overlarge bus station languished and fell into disrepair and in 2012 the council gave the go-ahead for demolition in favour of a controversial retail scheme.

Action

The C20 Society made three applications to list the building, and successfully proposed it for inclusion in the World Monuments Fund Watch List.

Outcome

The building was finally listed at Grade II in September 2013.  Consulting closely with C20, architects John Puttick Associates in 2018 completed the first phase of a complete refurbishment which included the addition of an information centre, cafe, shops and other facilities.