£5.2m boost for "shovel ready" electric bus depot for Warrington

WARRINGTON is set to receive £5.2m from the government’s “Getting Building Fund” for a “shovel ready” project to construct a new, all electric bus depot in the town.

The proposed electric bus depot on Bewsey Road is one of over 300 successful projects in England to receive a share of the £900 million Getting Building Fund, which was announced by the Prime Minister in June, to invest in shovel-ready housing and infrastructure projects, creating jobs and supporting economic recovery across the country.
The development includes redeveloping the existing Warrington’s Own Buses bus depot on Wilderspool Causeway for town centre housing.
The £900m fund is expected to deliver up to 45,000 homes, create up to 85,000 jobs and reduce around 65 million kgs of CO2 emissions across England.
Warrington South MP Andy Carter has hailed the announcement that Warrington South will benefit from £5,225,000 of investment, under the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

In Warrington, the fund will be used to build a new all Electric Bus Fleet Depot in the town centre. The new depot, on land owned by the Council has already received planning permission and will involve the relocation of Warrington’s Own Buses Depot from its current site to a purpose-built new depot. This is complementary to the recently submitted All Electric Bus Town Expression of Interest which seeks funding towards the extra over costs of making this depot suitable for an all-electric bus fleet powered by electricity generated by the Council’s investments in Solar Farms.
Commenting, Mr Carter said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for Warrington, the new electric bus depot will be massive boost for our local transport connectivity, and I’m pleased to see that the old site will be used for much-needed affordable homes in the town.
“As one of the most successful towns in the UK for economic development, investment, employment rates and growth, we have a resilient local economy here in Warrington and I’m keen to bring more investment in, particularly around the regeneration of the town centre.
“This funding provides a real opportunity to make a significant difference, and alongside our proposals for the first all-electric bus fleet, we can make journeys greener and the natural choice for residents living in the town.
“My call now is on the Government to compliment this funding for the depot and award Warrington as the country’s first all-electric bus Town, putting us on the map as a major local transport hub which will make our communities stronger and more connected than ever.”

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:”As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.
“This government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”