The region’s largest bus operator, Go North East is relocating its Stanley depot after nearly 100 years in the town, to a new state-of-the art facility in Consett.
The award-winning bus company has received planning approval from Durham County Council to build a new high-specification depot on Hownsgill Industrial Estate in Consett.
The purpose-built 11,585sq/ft depot designed by Go-Ahead Group’s property team in conjunction with Gateshead-based architects, Shadbolt Group, will include a lean engineering facility to streamline processes and make vehicle maintenance more efficient, a full-recycling vehicle wash and spill-free refuelling system.
The current Stanley depot, which sits on the site of a former ice-rink, is in major need of refurbishment. The move by Go North East is part of its extensive investment programme, which in the past year has included £10m spent on purchasing new vehicles and upgrading others, with more environmentally-friendly engines and comfortable and convenient facilities such as audio-visual next stop announcements, USB power sockets, WIFI and leather seating.
Due to open in February 2019, £3.5m will be spent on building and fitting out the new depot which will sit on a 2.23 acres site.
Kevin Carr, managing director of Go North East, said: “After nearly a century in Stanley this planning approval marks a momentous occasion in Go North East’s history and we are excited to start breaking ground on the site in Consett.
“We’ve had many happy years in Stanley, but looking ahead we welcome the opening of a new depot that incorporates top-quality design, more efficient features and better alignment to our brand vision, beliefs and attitudes. We want all our team members to be proud to be part of Go North East and this depot will certainly give them something to be proud of.”
For more information about Go North East, visit www.gonortheast.co.uk.