Landscape & Urban Design Issue 15 2015 | Page 30

Stoke-on-Trent Bus Station A new iconic bus station opened in March 2013 in Hanley City Council leader of the day Mohammed Pervez said at the and was built as part of a multi-million pound city centre time: “The opening of this bus station marks the start of a development of Stoke-on-Trent. The redevelopment set out journey to transform our city centre and the whole city.” to transform this prominent city centre site into a premier regional shopping destination. The new bus station spearheaded further multi-million pound projects to increase the quality of Stoke-on-Trent city centre as The construction of the new “state-of-the-art” bus station was the commercial heart of North Staffordshire, completing in the on the site of the former John Street surface car park. Work summer of 2015, to make visible, practical and aesthetically- started in summer 2011 with a contract to stabilise the land pleasing improvements to the overall public realm of the city. and the main contract to construct the buildings and roads This gave Stoke-on-Trent city centre new, high quality public started just before Christmas 2011. spaces in Albion Street, Albion Square, the western end of Old The £15m building has 22 bus departure bays, waiting facilities, interactive touch-screen journey planners, a convenience store and toilets. An estimated 120 buses travel through the station Hall Street and Lichfield Street, connecting to the new bus station and also the area from the top of Piccadilly down to the new Smithfield development. every hour. The old bus station and the surrounding 1960’s The public realm was upgraded to transform the appearance buildings were demolished to make way for a new shopping of the city and improve the experience for visitors, providing centre and plans for further public realm work throughout the an inspirational series of linked space and streets that can city of Stoke-on-Trent. accommodate events and festivals, in a safe, accessible and Hardscape supplied Carlow blue limestone bespoke polished attractive environment. benches and fossil paving, both externally around the bus Hardscape were proud also to supply a mix of granite, Kellen station and within the covered passenger walkways working and sandstone paving materials and accessories and unique closely with Planit-ie Landscape Architects of Altrincham, bespoke granite benches with Artscape enhancements Cheshire and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. throughout each of the 3 phases throughout the city. www.stoke.gov.uk