The wheels are rolling on the creation of the new £5.5 million bus depot for mid and south Warwickshire.
Warwick-based developer AC Lloyd and project managers Minns Network are creating a new depot and engineering hub for Stagecoach at Trident Park, in Warwick, as part of a major redevelopment plan in the district.
The company is currently based at Station Approach near the town centre of Leamington but is relocating from this site as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the land for housing, the majority of which will be available for rent or shared ownership through Waterloo Housing Association.
Work on the depot will be completed in April 2017 and it will include six mechanical maintenance pits, two areas to allow buses to be elevated for repair and inspection, an engineering office, a bus wash and parking for more than 75 vehicles.
Des Wynne, of AC Lloyd, said the new development would be a double improvement for the region.
“Station Approach will see the creation of much-needed affordable homes in a really convenient location close to the railway station and in turn has given Stagecoach the opportunity to create a state-of-the- art depot in Trident Park from where they will run their local operations,” he said.
“This will mark the completion of the Trident Park Development following the recent development of a new teaching facility for Warwickshire College, and the Trident Business Centre, both of which were successfully completed last year.”
He said: “It is also a very good news story for local businesses. Deeley Construction, who are based in Coventry and have worked extensively in the Leamington area, have won the depot construction contract.
“The two companies worked together recently on the College building and the contract went extremely well.
The legal work was undertaken by Wright Hassall who are a stone’s throw from the site while the two agents – Bromwich Hardy and Avison Young – are also both local which really does underline the strength of the professional sector in this area.”
Stagecoach will have 165 people working out of the new depot, with buses and coaches operating from there across the area and into Coventry.
Steve Burd, Managing Director for Stagecoach Midlands, added: “”Bus services operated from the depot will cover South Warwickshire and run as far as Coventry in the North , Stratford in the South, Evesham in the West and Southam in the East .Our initial fleet will consist of 27 double decks , 26 single decks and 14 Gold standard minibuses.
“The move will allow us to significantly improve our engineering capability on site and provide our staff with the best modern facilities in which to work.”
pictures by Inpress Images
Front; Steve Burd (left) and Des Wynne
Rear from left: David Tew (Avison Young), Tom Bromwich (Bromwich Hardy), Claire Waring (Wright Hassall ), Steve Turner (Deeley Group)