Plans approved for future-ready bus depot

Plans to build a “depot of the future” in Teesside have been approved.

Stagecoach North East has been given planning permission to rebuild its bus depot off Portrack Lane and Church Road in Stockton, paving the way for a new, future-focused facility designed to support improved services for passengers. 

Approved by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the scheme will replace ageing depot buildings with a smaller, more efficient site.

The plans include a three-storey office building featuring staff facilities such as a gym, canteen, roof terrace and innovative features such as a “think tank”, a dedicated engineering workspace.

Alongside the new building, the redevelopment will create a larger operational yard with upgraded bus wash facilities and fast-fix lanes.

Crucially, the new depot will be equipped to support the electrification of 66 buses, reflecting wider efforts to modernise fleets and reduce emissions. 

Parking provision on the site will be reduced from 77 to 48 spaces, with the redesign prioritising operational efficiency and future transport needs.

Once complete, the development is expected to play a key role in supporting Stagecoach’s operations across the region while helping to deliver more sustainable public transport in Stockton and the wider Teesside area.

Town planner Emily Floeser wrote in a planning statement: “Stagecoach is actively working towards the full electrification of its fleet and is committed to upgrading its existing infrastructure to align with this goal. 

“As part of this transition, the company is proposing a comprehensive redevelopment of its current depot site to support the operational demands of a modern fleet of electric buses.

“The existing depot is in poor condition and would require extensive and costly modifications to be retained. Stagecoach aims to replace it with a purpose-built facility that reflects the ambitions of a ‘depot of the future’.

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

“The depot upgrade ensures continuity of public transport services while allowing the depot to evolve in order to meet current and future infrastructure and operational needs.”

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