First Bus to overhaul Wigan depot

BUS operator First Manchester has awarded a £2.3m deal to redevelop Wigan’s bus depot to building contractor GMI Construction.

The 300,000 sq ft site is based on the South Lancashire Industrial Estate and consists of an existing depot workshop with service pits, a separate office block and additional storage buildings within the secured parameter.

The depot serves as a main hub for buses covering the 140 local routes across Wigan.

A range of refurbishment and alteration works will be completed on the depot and office areas, including the formation of a new entrance, vertical inspection pits and a new tyre store.

Demolition work will also be carried out to extend the building to accommodate a new fuelling lane and bus wash.  Furthermore external works to the site will encompass a new CCTV, security and lighting system.

GMI Construction as the main contractor will be undertaking all the building works. Other members of the project team include DLA Architecture (architects); RPP (quantity surveyors); Curtins (structural engineers) and Lachmann Consultants (M&E engineers).

Richard Soper, managing director for First in Manchester, said: “This new depot, once completed, will give us the opportunity to provide our staff with better facilities from which to provide this improved level of service.”

Jarrod Best, managing director of GMI Construction, said: “Over the years GMI have built up an impressive portfolio of projects covering many different types of construction work.

“With our existing knowledge on depot facilities having completed other schemes of this nature, I am delighted that we can provide First Manchester with an enhanced site so that they can continue providing an exceptional service to the people of Wigan.”

Work on the depot is due to start at the beginning of February and will be completed by summer 2011.