Go North East has returned to Consett with the opening of their newest regional bus depot at Hownsgill Industrial Park.
Project Genesis has delivered a new bus depot for Go North East (part of the Go Ahead Group) on the Hownsgill Industrial Park helping to create an extra 20 jobs in Consett. The depot will be the centre of Go Ahead’s operation in north west Durham showing a massive commitment to Consett and the area by Go Ahead.
The purpose-built 11,585 sq/ft, state-of-the-art facility has been designed by Go-Ahead Group’s property team in conjunction with Gateshead-based architects, Shadbolt Group, who also project managed the development on a
The £3.5m depot boasts a number of environmental and energy-saving innovations which include a 30kw solar energy system and a rainwater recycling facility that reuses 95% of water for every vehicle wash. The engineer-friendly maintenance workshop has been designed as a highly flexible and work-efficient unit, with anti-spill oil, air and water systems in operation.
The new depot will house 63 of the 700 buses Go North East operates within the region and will be the new base for 129 bus drivers and 29 engineers who will transfer from the current depot in Stanley.
The new depot was officially opened by Chief Executive of the Go Ahead Group David Brown and Leader of Durham County Council Simon Henig.
After the opening David Brown said: “We continue to invest in premises and our buses, to make them more environmentally friendly. It’s really great to be opening a new depot here in the North East, back to where our origins are.”
Cllr Simon Henig added: “Bus networks link our local communities in a unique way. This new depot will serve to improve valuable public transport services.”
“It’s fantastic to see such a prominent organisation as Go North East investing in this part of County Durham. The investment shows confidence in growing the economy in Consett and throughout the county.”
