Eden Project architects picked to design £15m city centre bus station
THE internationally renowned architects behind the Eden Project and London's Eurostar terminal will design Hanley's new £15 million bus station.
And regeneration leaders have vowed to start work on the long-awaited scheme in nine months' time.
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Grimshaw Architects was selected for the project last night at a private meeting of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet.
The firm, which has a global reputation for designing striking showcase buildings for the world's foremost cities and corporations, beat five other design teams to the contract.
Last night's selection followed a month-long public consultation on the plans.
Grimshaw will now have to refine its initial concept, pictured above, so it fits on to the bus station site, which is currently occupied by the John Street surface car park.
The transport hub is seen as the first phase of the planned £360 million East West Centre shopping precinct, which is to be built on the site of the dilapidated existing bus station.
City council leader Mohammed Pervez welcomed the design selection and gave his personal guarantee that construction work will start on March 28 next year.
He said: "I am excited and pleased with this significant step towards a new bus station.
"At long last the people of Stoke-on-Trent will know their new, state-of-the-art, modern and fit-for-purpose bus station is within reach.
"The bus station will be located at the heart of the East West redevelopment, which will bring a critical mass of investment into the city directly creating much-needed new jobs."
He added: "I will personally be there on March 28 to see the work start on site. It has been a long time coming."
It is thought the bus station will be completed in 2012.
Grimshaw associate Richard Blackwell said he was delighted that the firm's design proposal had emerged victorious from the contest.
He said: "The competition brief clearly described the need for a new bus station, but we soon recognised that the significance of the project extended beyond the immediate confines of the site.
"We aim to deliver an elegant, simple building of enduring quality, and are confident that the project will play a significant role in shaping the on-going redevelopment of Stoke-on-Trent."
The council's cabinet member for regeneration, councillor Mervin Smith, also spoke of his relief at seeing the project moving forward.
He said: "Delivery of the new bus station is our number one priority as it is likely to unlock the door to future key regeneration projects in the city and to create further jobs.
"It is fantastic news that we have such a highly celebrated architectural team delivering the scheme and I am excited to see the final design later in the year."
Funding for the new bus station is expected to come from East West Centre developer Realis Estates and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
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by D STOKES, STOKE
Thursday, June 24 2010, 8:19PM
“This floppy pancake or oatcake design looks as if it was designed by a child.
Another Unity House in the making.
How many brown envelopes did it take to get this started?”
by John Max, Longton
Thursday, June 24 2010, 7:45PM
“Wasn't there a character name Grimshaw in the Norman Wisdom films, he was a bit of a prat, should he be trusted with this money or where is the money when they finally tip some concrete. I would check the money is available before paying for a very expensive set of plans and not a project that is going to be cancelled by the new Government.”
by ian, tunstall
Thursday, June 24 2010, 7:24PM
“warren, they need to have the money in place before they can build it, and as they only advertised for a CONSULTANT to produce the business case in April 2010.
so still have to get funding agreed, planning application accepted and appoint builders”
by ian, Tunstall
Thursday, June 24 2010, 7:13PM
“this is pretty good new if advantage west midlands have accepted our Business & Economic Case for Investment in the new Bus Station.
Very brave move of Labour promising Turf Cutting on 28th March, one month ahead ALL out elections”
by Vik, Milton
Thursday, June 24 2010, 6:50PM
“Err sorry but I don't think it will be built or finished to the standard shown. Even then if it is the buses are old and the prices will no doubt go up and the service still will be poor I have grown up with stoke failing everything and hiking the prices up for things. We need more than a snazzy bus station!”
by Warren, Meir
Thursday, June 24 2010, 6:29PM
“JUST RUDDY BILLED THE RUDDY THING, FOR GOD SAKE.”
by johnsmith, pimlico
Thursday, June 24 2010, 6:09PM
“My fear is 15m equals second rate design. Past history may support this irrational thought the bus shelter in Burslem, Sorry the Ceramic building, the red brick visual monstrosity, The Potteries Centre. both to me look reflect the council at that time clueless at best. Money and our council are not good bed fellows.”
by M. Davies, Blythe Bridge
Thursday, June 24 2010, 5:34PM
“I like staring at men's behinds, the tighter the better.”
by mikefirel, neckend
Thursday, June 24 2010, 3:29PM
“Was the company chosen chose in a similar manner to the choice of "work of art" that is to be inflicted on us?
Why is it necessary to refine the initial concept, were the architects not given the dimensions? Was it a universal design that can be shoehorned into any area, or is it supposedly designed for us, but the council have changed the location?
The company concerned is glad that it was victorious in the contest.That assumes other designs were proffered and rejected? was this design the one that competed with the others,or is the "refined" design one that has been accepted, without competing?
If I was the designer of a pint pot, and all that that entails, I would not be happy with a half pint alternative. However my employers might be getting away with less for the same price, irrespective of the resultant unsuitability.”
by C.Antrobus, Stoke
Thursday, June 24 2010, 1:00PM
“Ok so we are going to have a 15 million quid state of the art bus station built witch is great, but picture this you are standing in the state of the art bus station and in rolls your bus witch is looking all banged up and out of date. So does that mean we are going to start seeing new state of the art buses or at least buses that dont look like they hae been through 20 rounds with every speed bump and lamp post about?.”