Salisbury station was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as a gateway to the West and its stylish, elegant facade, complete with classical flourishes, was designed by railway architect Sir William Tite.

If they were alive today both men, surely, would be appalled by the increasingly tatty setting and general state of shabbiness of the once distinguished railway station.

There was concern that future alterations could seriously compromise the architectural heritage and integrity of the station, which has a 1902 Queen Anne revival style extension.

Now, however, help is at hand after the frontage of the busy Victorian-built station was designated a Grade II listed structure following the intervention of the Salisbury Civic Society.

The status means any alterations to the building or plans to build others near it would have to pass rigorous procedures.

Brunel's original 1856 terminus is already a Grade II listed building but Tite's esteemed larger structure, added a few years later, has not had such protection until now.

Yesterday, civic society chairman Alastair Clark said: "It's an important mid 19th-century building with a lot of history. We have been concerned about its present state and how future alterations could affect it.

"We're very pleased with this listing. It means planning consent has to be given for any alterations which would affect the character of the listed building."

Civic society member Judith Payne said she applied to English Heritage for listed status following concerns that further developments may detract from the original designs.

She said: "The society has also long been concerned about the general air of dilapidation surrounding the station."

Mrs Payne said the former Great Western Railways structure had been featured in a recent eyesore campaign aimed at cleaning-up the medieval city. mThe body, the remit of which includes preserving buildings in Salisbury with architectural and historic importance, had the services of conservation expert Jenny Pearce who produced a comprehensive appraisal of the station for English Heritage.

English Heritage issued a statement saying the station's frontage buildings had been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Fisherton Street complex was initially recommended for listing in 1994 as part of a review of railway structures in the 1990s, but the recommendation was not taken forward at that time.

However, English Heritage was asked to look at the station again this year in response to possible future alterations by South West Trains.

It said: "English Heritage believes the station buildings meet the criteria for listing at grade II because they are of special architectural and historical interest."

The body said as well as Brunel's 1856 terminus and Tite's facade the station was also in a strategic location known locally as the gateway to the West.