Leicester’s net-zero carbon bus station to open

Leicester’s new net-zero carbon bus station is due to open to the public next week. The £14.3million bus station redevelopment is part of the St Margaret’s Gateway regeneration project.

The new St Margaret’s bus station will be back in operation for local bus users from Monday 27 June. National Express is due to begin operating from its new premises inside St Margaret’s Bus Station from Tuesday 5 July.

The facility is pay for use. Tour coaches can use St Margaret’s Bus Station but must pre-book with the bus station manager in advance, who will notify of fees and allocate an appropriate bus stand for use.

Leicester City Council also offers a free service separate to the bus stations through Visit Leicester for tours visiting the city.

It follows 18-months of construction which saw the old 1980s building almost completely demolished and stripped back to its partial steelwork frame, which was reused in line with the high eco-standards of the project. By reusing major elements of the previous building and retaining and repairing the existing concrete on the main area for bus arrivals and departures, the ‘embodied’ carbon cost of constructing the new building has been dramatically reduced by an equivalent of over 575 tonnes.

The new building features a glazed concourse to maximise natural lighting and cut energy consumption and a curved aluminium roof where a solar array of 390 photovoltaic panels will generate more power than is needed to run the building.

As well as improved passenger facilities, the new building has a third more bays for national and regional services, from 18 to 24. Electric bus charging points have been installed and the new building will offer secure storage for up to 100 bicycles.

“Leicester is an important hub for National Express customers and we look forward to commencing services from the new St Margaret’s Bus Station”- Ed Rickard, service delivery director at National Express UK

Ed Rickard, service delivery director at National Express UK, said: “Leicester is an important hub for National Express customers and we look forward to commencing services from the new St Margaret’s Bus Station. The redeveloped station will provide vastly improved facilities for our passengers’ convenience and comfort, connecting the city with frequent and affordable services to destinations across the UK.”