A New York architect has won the competition to give Preston’s iconic bus station a £13m facelift.

John Puttick Associates, based in Manhattan, produced the winning design in a competition to revamp the Grade II Listed building and provide a home for the city’s new Youth Zone.

The Puttick vision, entry No 5 on the shortlist selected by a panel of judges, came out on top in a public vote.

The judges also considered it to be the best of almost 100 designs submitted from around the world.

Coun Jennifer Mein, leader of owners Lancashire County Council, said: 'We always knew that the bus station had a global appeal and the fact that the winning firm comes from New York reinforces this. We’re delighted that a strong design has been chosen for the new Youth Zone Plus and we’ll now be working hard to get it built.

'This is a significant investment in one of Preston’s most well-known buildings, which will bring exciting new facilities for our young people, for this generation and for future ones. It’s an exciting time for the city,'

John Puttick, the architect behind the chosen design, said: 'The Preston Bus Station development is an important opportunity to create a destination that makes a genuine difference for both visitors and the local community.

'The three components of the project – the revitalisation of the modernist bus station, the new OnSide Youth Zone, and a large outdoor public space – offer a rich mixture of uses and the challenge of sensitively introducing contemporary design to the existing setting.

'We are delighted to have been selected as the winners of the competition and are excited to develop the design with the client and stakeholders.

'We hope to play a game of football on the roof once the project is complete.'

Source: Lep