WARRINGTON has taken another step towards achieving its ambitious aim of being the first town in the UK with an all-electric bus fleet.
Warrington Borough Council planning chiefs have given the go-ahead for a new electricity generating substation adjoining the new bus depot now being built on the Warrington Trading Estate off Dallam Lane.
The substation is essential to the development of a new, all-electric bus depot.
Planning consent has been given for a brick building to house the sub-station, a concrete foundation and associated plant.
It will be shielded from public view – but in any case will be of a design appropriate on a trading estate.
Work started on the £10 million new bus depot early this year and is progressing well.
It is 10 years since Warrington’s first diesel-electric Hybrid buses were introduced. But now the town is being supported in its plans for an all-electric bus fleet by £21.5m from the Department of Transport.
The plan is to replace Warrington’s Own Buses fleet of diesel buses with 120 electric buses, giving the town one of the biggest all-electric bus fleets in the country.
Roll-out of the new “green” buses should start around the end of next year.
When the new depot opens, the existing depot will become available for building some 600 new homes off Wllderspool Causeway.
