Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has revealed plans for Greater Manchester’s first purpose-built fully electric bus depot, to be sited on Heathside Park Road in Stockport. Subject to planning approval, the facility will replace the existing depot at Daw Bank, and become a depot dedicated solely to electric buses. The reveal comes as the number of electric buses on TfGM’s ‘Bee Network’ continues to expand rapidly, as diesel buses are phased out.
The new depot will accommodate around 200 electric buses, alongside charging infrastructure and a workshop for maintenance, servicing and MOT testing. The proposals follow last month’s confirmation of 125 further electric Bee Network buses, part of a wider plan to achieve a fully electric fleet across Greater Manchester by 2030. Half of the region’s depots are already electrified, with Ashton and Middleton fully converted and Bolton, Oldham and Hyde Road also upgraded. Construction at the site is set to start in 2027, with the depot operational by late 2029.
The rapid expansion of Greater Manchester’s electric bus fleet reflects a national trend, with zero-emission models being rolled out in towns and cities right across the UK. Recently, London passed an important milestone of 3,000 zero-emission buses, as the capital also works towards a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2034.
Chris Barnes, Infrastructure Delivery Director at TfGM, commented:
“Modernising the Bee Network means better services for passengers and cleaner air for everyone in Greater Manchester. That’s why we’ve been investing in our depots, upgrading them to accommodate our growing fleet of electric buses. This site in Stockport offers us the perfect opportunity to build the first electric bus depot of its kind in Greater Manchester – one that is purpose-built and fit for the future. And it also means the regeneration of the town centre can continue. We look forward to speaking with local residents about the proposals as we prepare to submit our plans for the depot to Stockport Council later this year.”
