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Challenge to bus station demolition move
Heritage chiefs are demanding a review of the decision not to list Preston's bus station.
Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw paved the way for the 41-year-old building to be demolished by saying it was "not of sufficient architectural or historic interest" to be protected.
But the Twentieth Century Society, which called for the building to be Grade II listed, said the decision added fuel to the controversy over ministerial involvement in heritage decision-making and will ask for a formal review.
Director Catherine Croft said: "The outstanding quality of this building is widely recognised and should certainly be acknowledged by listing.
"Although we believe that it has a viable future, if the local council wishes to argue that its physical condition, or the requirements of the Tithebarn area redevelopment really are incompatible with its retention, the appropriate way of judging this would be via a listed building consent application, rather than by attempting to deny its significance as a historic building.
"This may sound pedantic, but it is a process that is fundamental to ensuring fair and open decision-making."
The society said there was no previous case law to say the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) could take into account "the way in which the building currently fulfils or fails to fulfil its functions," as outlined in the decision.
Both the Society and English Heritage have argued that the bus station is of "national architectural and historic interest" and should be listed to form a focal point for the city's regeneration.
In their report, English Heritage said 1960s "mega-structures" were
becoming increasingly rare.
A public inquiry is due to take place this summer to decide if developers Lend Lease can move ahead with the 700m Tithebarn scheme.
The project involves bulldozing the bus station to make way for a John Lewis department store, as well as building a host of other shops, leisure facilities, apartments, revitalised markets, cafes, bars and offices.
A spokesman for the DCMS said anyone who wanted to call for a review needed to do so within 28 days of the decision being made.
However, a review will only be carried out where "there is significant evidence that the original decision has been made wrongly" or where "there is significant evidence which was not previously considered, relating to the special architectural or
historic interest of the building in a national context."
>> Preston bus station will not be listed
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
