ICE has today launched the People’s Choice Award, where the best recent infrastructure projects from across the UK are open to public vote.

Always up for a good contest, we in the North West have chosen Manchester Victoria Station. Ah! I hear you say – wasn’t there some issue about the roof? Well, yes…

Our thoughts go to the unfortunate people injured in the incident, and we wish them a speedy recovery. However – this is a truly great project – upgrading and ‘beautifying’ a gateway to Manchester, with a new roof larger than a footy pitch. Things do sometimes go wrong, and a suspected combination of ‘killer gulls’ and torrential rain caused the setback. (This has never happened at the Eden project, which has a similar roof, so we must have some tough old wildlife up here?).

Anyone who has visited Victoria will see a transformation to this beautiful old station – and we should focus on the foresight and expertise of Network Rail, Arcadis and Morgan Sindall to deliver a stunning project. Help us to celebrate by voting here and don’t forget to tweet #votevic.