The new £6.4 million Bishop Auckland Bus Station is now officially open to the public, marking the completion of a major investment in the town centre's transport infrastructure.
Delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of the Durham County Council, the bus station was built on the site of the former facility on Saddler Street and provides a modern, safe and welcoming transport hub for residents and visitors travelling into Bishop Auckland.
Representatives from Esh joined Durham County Council at a formal opening ceremony, following the completion of the bus station and £1.8 million of associated enabling works. The project forms part of wider regeneration activity aimed at improving connectivity and supporting the town’s long-term vitality.
Steven Garrigan, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “Esh is proud to have delivered a modern, fully accessible transport hub that will play an important role in supporting Bishop Auckland’s regeneration and strengthening local connectivity.
“Working closely with Durham County Council, this project reflects our commitment to delivering high quality infrastructure that serves communities across the region, while also creating meaningful social value and opportunities locally.”
Bishop Auckland’s transport hub features new and improved passenger information with live updates, CCTV, toilet facilities – including accessible toilets, a changing places unit and a parent and child facility – and a retail kiosk.
The bus station is fully accessible, with anti-slip flooring and seating as well as wheelchair spaces at the front of each passenger waiting area.
The area surrounding the bus station has also been landscaped, with paved areas, drainage systems, street lighting installed.
More than 120 hot rolled steel girders weighing a total of 23.49 tonne were installed on the building, having been fabricated less than two miles from the development by South Durham Structures Ltd.
A variety of sustainable technologies serve to boost the building’s environmental credentials feature within the design, including solar photo voltaic panels on the roof, a rainwater harvesting and re-use system and a Sedum green living roof to promote biodiversity.
Alongside the bus station, there will also be a new 124-space car park, with accessible spaces for wheelchairs and Blue Badge holders and parking for motorcycles.
There will also be electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking.
Cllr Tim McGuinness, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, said: “The completion of Bishop Auckland Bus Station is a major step in our plans to regenerate Bishop Auckland and boost its standing as a thriving market town and visitor destination.
“The bus station looks fantastic and will provide the local community with modern, up-to-date facilities so they can access opportunities within the county and beyond. It will also serve as a positive welcome for visitors travelling into the centre for Bishop Auckland’s growing culture, heritage and events offer.”
The project has delivered £2.2 million in social value, with 37 weeks of work experience and T-Level time provided to County Durham students, 55 weeks of work on site by County Durham veterans and reservists, 97 hours of STEM and employability skills delivered in schools and education settings and a £2.2m spend in County Durham’s supply chain.
Bishop Auckland Bus Station has been developed using £11.8 million of funding from the Future High Streets Fund.
To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk