diff --git a/src/swmmanywhere/prepare_data.py b/src/swmmanywhere/prepare_data.py
index 31d33887..e98359a0 100644
--- a/src/swmmanywhere/prepare_data.py
+++ b/src/swmmanywhere/prepare_data.py
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@
 import rioxarray.merge as rxr_merge
 import xarray as xr
 from geopy.geocoders import Nominatim
+from pyarrow import RecordBatchReader
+from pyarrow.compute import field
+from pyarrow.dataset import dataset
+from pyarrow.fs import S3FileSystem
+from pyarrow.parquet import ParquetWriter
 
 from swmmanywhere.logging import logger
 from swmmanywhere.utilities import yaml_load
@@ -59,6 +64,50 @@ def get_country(x: float, y: float) -> dict[int, str]:
     return {2: iso_country_code, 3: data.get(iso_country_code, "")}
 
 
+def _record_batch_reader(bbox: tuple[float, float, float, float]) -> RecordBatchReader:
+    """Get a pyarrow batch reader this for bounding box and s3 path."""
+    s3_region = "us-west-2"
+    version = "2024-07-22.0"
+    path = f"overturemaps-{s3_region}/release/{version}/theme=buildings/type=building/"
+    xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax = bbox
+    ds_filter = (
+        (field("bbox", "xmin") < xmax)
+        & (field("bbox", "xmax") > xmin)
+        & (field("bbox", "ymin") < ymax)
+        & (field("bbox", "ymax") > ymin)
+    )
+
+    ds = dataset(path, filesystem=S3FileSystem(anonymous=True, region=s3_region))
+    batches = ds.to_batches(filter=ds_filter)
+    non_empty_batches = (b for b in batches if b.num_rows > 0)
+
+    geoarrow_schema = ds.schema.set(
+        ds.schema.get_field_index("geometry"),
+        ds.schema.field("geometry").with_metadata(
+            {b"ARROW:extension:name": b"geoarrow.wkb"}
+        ),
+    )
+    return RecordBatchReader.from_batches(geoarrow_schema, non_empty_batches)
+
+
+def download_buildings_bbox(
+    file_address: Path, bbox: tuple[float, float, float, float]
+) -> None:
+    """Retrieve building data in bbox from Overture Maps to file.
+
+    This function is based on
+    `overturemaps-py <https://github.com/OvertureMaps/overturemaps-py>`__.
+
+    Args:
+        bbox (tuple): Bounding box coordinates (xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax)
+        file_address (Path): File address to save the downloaded data.
+    """
+    reader = _record_batch_reader(bbox)
+    with ParquetWriter(file_address, reader.schema) as writer:
+        for batch in reader:
+            writer.write_batch(batch)
+
+
 def download_buildings(file_address: Path, x: float, y: float) -> int:
     """Download buildings data based on coordinates and save to a file.
 
diff --git a/src/swmmanywhere/preprocessing.py b/src/swmmanywhere/preprocessing.py
index 97af0a64..72766569 100644
--- a/src/swmmanywhere/preprocessing.py
+++ b/src/swmmanywhere/preprocessing.py
@@ -78,23 +78,14 @@ def prepare_elevation(
 def prepare_building(
     bbox: tuple[float, float, float, float], addresses: FilePaths, target_crs: str
 ):
-    """Download, trim and reproject building data."""
+    """Download and reproject building data."""
     if addresses.bbox_paths.building.exists():
         return
 
-    if not addresses.project_paths.national_building.exists():
-        logger.info(
-            f"""downloading buildings to 
-                    {addresses.project_paths.national_building}"""
-        )
-        prepare_data.download_buildings(
-            addresses.project_paths.national_building, bbox[0], bbox[1]
-        )
-
-    logger.info(f"trimming buildings to {addresses.bbox_paths.building}")
-    national_buildings = gpd.read_parquet(addresses.project_paths.national_building)
-    buildings = national_buildings.cx[bbox[0] : bbox[2], bbox[1] : bbox[3]]  # type: ignore
+    logger.info(f"downloading buildings to {addresses.bbox_paths.building}")
+    prepare_data.download_buildings_bbox(addresses.bbox_paths.building, bbox)
 
+    buildings = gpd.read_parquet(addresses.bbox_paths.building)
     buildings = buildings.to_crs(target_crs)
     write_df(buildings, addresses.bbox_paths.building)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_prepare_data.py b/tests/test_prepare_data.py
index d51ab15b..08429e56 100644
--- a/tests/test_prepare_data.py
+++ b/tests/test_prepare_data.py
@@ -73,6 +73,26 @@ def test_building_downloader_download():
         assert gdf.shape[0] > 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.downloads
+def test_building_bbox_downloader_download():
+    """Check buildings are downloaded."""
+    # Coordinates for small country (VAT)
+    bbox = (-0.17929, 51.49638, -0.17383, 51.49846)
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+        temp_fid = Path(temp_dir) / "temp.parquet"
+        # Download
+        downloaders.download_buildings_bbox(temp_fid, bbox)
+
+        # Check file exists
+        assert temp_fid.exists(), "Buildings data file not found after download."
+
+        # Load data
+        gdf = gpd.read_parquet(temp_fid)
+
+        # Make sure has some rows
+        assert gdf.shape[0] > 0
+
+
 @pytest.mark.downloads
 def test_street_downloader_download():
     """Check streets are downloaded and a specific point in the graph."""