Volvo completes £2m Croydon refurbishment
Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East has completed a comprehensive £2 million refurbishment of its dealership in Croydon. The site’s layout has been overhauled to maximise operational efficiency and sustainability. The facility has been rebranded the site as Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London South.
The redeveloped facility features a flowing open-plan design to help Volvo’s technicians and office-based team streamline their workflows and better connect with customers, while £500,000 has been invested in new sustainable technologies and increased energy efficiency.
As a direct result, the London South depot is expected to fall from emitting 232 tonnes of CO2 on-site annually, to becoming a net-zero dealership, thanks to the inclusion of multiple energy-saving features such as solar panels, smart LED lighting and air source heat pumps, which replace older gas boilers. It is also the first dealership in the network to be certified as a zero waste to landfill operation.
“This dealership has played a pivotal role within our network for more than 40 years” – Domenico Bondi, Managing Director of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland
Domenico Bondi, Managing Director of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, said: “This dealership has played a pivotal role within our network for more than 40 years and what has been achieved with the refurbishment programme is a credit to the teams managing this project from concept to completion.
“At the same time as we are placing a huge focus on delivering our most sustainable and efficient range of buses and coaches ever; it demonstrates how we are also working to reduce the environmental impact of our aftersales services and operations.”
“The investment ensures we have an ultra-modern dealership in a prime location close to central London” – Stuart Potter, Operations Director for the Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East dealer group
Stuart Potter, Operations Director for the Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East dealer group, said: “The investment ensures we have an ultra-modern dealership in a prime location close to central London, from which we can offer customers an enhanced level of service, support future generations of product, and continue to attract the best talent wanting to join our team.”
Other enhancements at the site include the creation of additional on-site parking following a significant landscaping effort, plus a much brighter workshop thanks to new doors and skylights which maximise the use of natural daylight, along with new cladding for improved thermal efficiency, and on-site electric vehicle charging points.
Originally opened in 1980, the Croydon-based depot is located ten miles from central London and is home to a team of nearly 70 staff, of which more than 30 are technicians. The dealership benefits from six vehicle bays, offering 12 workspaces, along with a dedicated Authorise Testing Facility (ATF) lane, and is staffed by two daily shifts, Monday to Saturday.