Minister opens First’s electric bus depot in Bristol

Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, has today (3 June 2025) visited Bristol to officially open the refurbished Hengrove Depot.

The First Bus site has been transformed into an electric bus facility, upgraded to support the rollout of 74 zero-emission buses on the city’s network.

The site has been upgraded to run zero-emission buses as part of a £44m project led by First Bus including over £6.5m Government funding support.

“With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more reliable services, stronger local control, and protection for vital routes” – Simon Lightwood

Simon Lightwood said: “We’re bringing cleaner, quieter, and smoother bus journeys to Bristol and beyond – backed by £38m in government funding and even more from private investment.

“Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change: creating green jobs, boosting the local economy, and building a more sustainable future.

“With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more reliable services, stronger local control, and protection for vital routes.”

“The unveiling of our latest electrified depot at Hengrove in Bristol…brings us one step closer to a fully electric fleet” – Isabel McAllister, First Bus’ Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer

Isabel McAllister, First Bus’ Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer, said: “Today marks another significant milestone in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. With over £300m of our own investment – alongside government funding – and more than 1,000 zero-emission buses already serving communities across the UK, we are proud to be leading the move towards cleaner, greener public transport.

“The unveiling of our latest electrified depot at Hengrove in Bristol, made possible through strong public-private partnership with the Department for Transport and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, brings us one step closer to a fully electric fleet.

“We’re proud to be leading the way in sustainable travel as we strive to better connect communities, drive economic growth, and inspire the nation to love and use the bus.”

With separate support of over £28m in Government funding, First Bus is set to electrify depots and introduce the region’s first electric buses, with a total 258 electric buses set to be delivered in the West of England and almost 100 already in service.

“The first of over 230 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England” – Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England

Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said: “I promised to work with government to get our region moving. The first of over 230 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best for the West.

“£29m secured from government and £120m from First Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston-super-Mare. This landmark investment in our wider area will also see a fully electric fleet at Hengrove by next summer and will soon turbo-charge the depots in Bath and Lawrence Hill too.

“These new zero-emission buses are a total game-changer for bus passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every seat. I was glad to welcome the Minister to our region to see them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus services in our region including through the new powers promised by the Bus Services Bill.”