en.Wedoany.com Reported - The £6.4 million Bishop Auckland bus station has opened to passengers. Delivered by Esh Construction for Durham County Council, the hub replaces the previous facility on Saddler Street and is designed to provide a modern, safe, and welcoming gateway for residents and visitors. The station and associated works, costing £1.8 million, are now complete. The scheme is part of a wider regeneration plan 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 a key role in supporting the regeneration of Bishop Auckland and enhancing local connectivity. Through close collaboration 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."
The station offers real-time passenger information, CCTV, toilet facilities including an accessible toilet, a Changing Places unit, and a parent-and-child facility, along with a retail kiosk. Accessibility measures include slip-resistant flooring, seating, and wheelchair spaces positioned at the front of each waiting area. The surrounding area has been landscaped with new paving, drainage, and street lighting. Over 120 hot-rolled steel beams, weighing a total of 23.49 tonnes, were manufactured and installed within two miles by South Durham Structures Ltd. Sustainability features include rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, a rainwater harvesting and reuse system, and a sedum green roof to encourage biodiversity. A new 124-space car park provides accessible bays for wheelchair users and Blue Badge holders, alongside motorcycle spaces, electric vehicle charging points, and cycle parking.
Councillor Tim McGuinness, Durham County Council's Cabinet member for rural, farming, and transport, said: "The completion of Bishop Auckland bus station is a significant step forward in our plans to regenerate Bishop Auckland and enhance its status as a thriving market town and tourist destination. The bus station looks fantastic and will provide the local community with modern, up-to-date facilities, enabling them to access opportunities across the county and beyond. It will also offer a warm welcome to visitors coming to enjoy Bishop Auckland's growing cultural, heritage, and events programme. Furthermore, the site provides ample parking, adding over 120 spaces for visitors. This will help attract people into the town, address parking shortages, and reduce pressure on residential areas. This is an important step for Bishop Auckland, and we are delighted to welcome the first passengers."
The project generated £2.2 million in social value, including 37 weeks of work experience and T-Level placements for students in County Durham, 55 weeks of on-site work for County Durham veterans and reservists, 97 hours of STEM and employability activities in schools and educational institutions, and £2.2 million spent within the County Durham supply chain. Bishop Auckland bus station was developed using £11.8 million from the Future High Streets Fund.
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