Bus firm plans to upgrade old depot

Stagecoach has asked for planning permission to build a replacement bus depot in Stockton

A bus company plans to build a "depot of the future" to improve public transport services for passengers.

Stagecoach North East has asked Stockton Council for planning permission to build a replacement bus depot, with a three-storey office building including a staff gym, canteen and roof terrace, off Portrack Lane and Church Road in Stockton.

Developers said they wanted to modernise and make better use of the existing "worn and dated bus depot buildings", having already installed equipment to electrify 66 buses.

Town planner Emily Floeser wrote in a planning statement: "The existing depot is in poor condition and would require extensive and costly modifications to be retained."

The statement added the existing depot was deemed too large to serve any purpose.

Stagecoach said that, once knocked down, the old buildings would make room for a "smaller, more efficient depot building", freeing up space for a larger yard with bus wash facilities and fast-fix lanes, with parking reduced from 77 to 48 spaces.

The three-storey office building, if approved, will include a roof terrace

Ms Floeser added the "purpose-built facility" reflected "the ambitions of a 'depot of the future'".

"The development responds to the identified need for modernised infrastructure to support economic growth and employment," she wrote.

"It supports Stagecoach's transition to a fully electric fleet, improving local air quality and reducing carbon emissions."

Planners hope the new depot will improve the operation, punctuality and reliability of public transport services and minimise the environmental impact.

They maintain the facility will keep existing jobs and provide space for training, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The statement added "high-quality amenities", such as a gym, canteen, roof terrace, and dedicated think tank space for engineers, would "encourage collaboration, innovation, and a healthier workplace environment".

It will also include energy efficiency measures such as LED lighting, and renewable energy installations like rooftop solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.