ST Margaret’s Bus Station in Leicester will close to the public this month, as work begins on its major £13.5million redevelopment.
Leicester City Council is planning to rebuild the existing bus station and revamp surrounding streets as part of a major scheme to regenerate this part of the city centre.
The St Margaret’s Bus Station building will close to the public from 7pm on Thursday 31 December, so work to prepare it for demolition can begin.
National Express coach services will continue to operate from St Margaret’s, with temporary offices and stops in place.
County bus services will also continue to operate from temporary stops located on Gravel Street, close to its junction with Church Gate, Charles Street and Abbey Street. All changes will be clearly signposted. The temporary changes will be in place from Friday 1 January 2021.
The works will require the closure of Gravel Street, between its junctions with Sandacre Street and Abbey Street. Clearly signed diversions will be in place. Access for pedestrians will be unaffected.
Demolition work will be carried out on behalf of the city council by DSM Demolition – the same company that carried the demolition of New Walk Centre. Work is expected to take around four months, with construction on the new building due to begin by late-spring 2021.
The striking new bus station building will be glazed from floor to ceiling and feature a striking curved aluminium roof that appears to float above the main concourse hall.
Bus passengers will benefit from a completely redesigned and improved internal layout with a new café, better seating and real time digital passenger information. There will also be increased capacity for national and regional bus services, with the number of bays increased from 18 to 24.
A series of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures will help make the new bus station a carbon neutral building. It is believed that this would be the first bus station to be built to net zero carbon standards in the UK.
Electric bus charging points will be installed, and the new building will feature secure storage for up to 150 bikes.
Improvements to footpaths and roads immediately surrounding the bus station are also proposed, with better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, new landscaping and tree planting, and better and safer crossings to soften the impact of the ring road. This will help strengthen and improve links between key development sites and the city centre, including the new Savoy Street which will link the new St Margaret’s and Haymarket bus stations.
Deputy city mayor for environment and transportation Cllr Adam Clarke said: “These exciting plans to replace St Margaret’s Bus Station with a striking, new and carbon neutral building will signal the beginning of a revival of this part of the city.
“The award of over £10million of government cash is a huge endorsement of the importance of this scheme. It will provide a huge boost for sustainable transport, help regenerate a run down but important gateway into Leicester and attract further private investment into the city.
“I’m confident that the necessary short-term disruption for bus users will be more than worth it in the long run.”
The £13.5million bus station redevelopment is part of the St Margaret’s Gateway regeneration project. This is supported by a £10.5m allocation from the Getting Building Fund, a pot of government funding awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP) for shovel-ready infrastructure projects to create jobs and support economic recovery across the country
Details of all temporary bus stops for affected local services are as follows:
- Kinchbus service 2 to Loughborough – stop BP on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
- Arriva services 26, 27, 29 & 29A to Coalville, Ratby or Burton on Trent – stop BJ on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
- Arriva services 84, 85 & X84 to Lutterworth, South Wigton or Rugby – stop CA on Charles Street (close to Humberstone Gate East)
- Roberts Coaches service 125 to Castle Donnington – stop BH on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
- Arriva services 126 & 127 to Coalville or Shepshed – stop BK on Abbey Street
- Centrebus service 154 to Loughborough – stop BP on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
- Kinchbus Skylink to Derby – stop BP on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
- Arriva services X3, X6 & X55 to Market Harborough, Coventry or Hinckley – stop CJ on Charles Street (Close to Halford Street)
- Centrica staff bus – stop BH on Gravel Street (close to Church Gate)
Any further changes to temporary arrangements will be clearly signed and publicised in advance.