Hold very tight, please ting, ting- Council on board with SGP plans for new Heckmondwike bus station

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to have secured planning approval from Kirklees Council for a new bus station in the heart of Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.

Replacing the limited facilities at the existing bus hub, the fully-fledged bus station will increase the number of bus stands from four to six and offer improved passenger facilities, including an impressive double height waiting area, glazed stands with safe access to buses, real-time information displays, public toilets, baby changing and a Changing Places facility.

Explains Alistair Branch, Partner at SGP: “In partnership with Kirklees Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and WSP, SGP has designed this landmark new bus station. Our design aims to create a contemporary, welcoming building to reflect the sense of pride local people have in Heckmondwike.”

A bold elliptical form houses the double height waiting area, complete with seating, toilet facilities and real-time service information. The green roof contains circular roof lights that allow light to flood into the building, whilst a raised parapet hides the necessary plant equipment and delivers a sharp edge to the curved profile for a simple, bold finish. The powerful curving line of the canopy for the outdoor bus waiting area offers up a muscular foil to the more sculptural main building. SGP’s choice of materials, primarily natural York stone cladding and light glazing, reflects – sometimes quite literally – the finishes and tones of the town centre environment.

Continues Alistair: “We worked with our client to engage with the public and other stakeholders early in the design process, as well as re-engaging with interested parties again once planning was submitted, to show how their comments and concerns have been taken on board in the proposed design. As a landmark project that aims to bring significant benefits to the town and the area, it’s vital that the local community feel part of the conversation and that the finished building is “theirs”; to be proud of and well used.”

SGP and WSP were keen to make the outdoor areas as attractive as the physical structure and establish the public realm as an intrinsic part of scheme. Areas of new planting, including a green wall, planters, trees and bench seating are wound around the bus station, complementing improvements to the perimeter footpath. With sustainability as a key driver for the scheme, SGP and WSP included elements such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and a sustainable urban drainage system to complement the broader green aspirations of the project, such as better cycle parking to help link together sustainable modes of transport.

The project is funded from the Transforming Cities Fund and is part of the regionally significant A638 Sustainable Travel Corridor Scheme to boost economic growth by improving connectivity between Dewsbury and Cleckheaton. It aims to improve bus service capacity, reliability and attractiveness so that more people will choose the sustainable transport option and travel by bus.

The project is expected to start on site late 2023 with a planned completion in 2024.

Since joining in 2016, Alistair has seen SGP’s Transport Sector grow rapidly, with a diverse portfolio of award-winning projects in design, on-site and completed, including bus interchanges and multi-storey car parks as well as training and Innovation Centres and aircraft hangars, with a wide range of values – from £300,000 to £40 million. SGP are currently completing the landmark new Bus Station in Halifax for West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Recent award-winning bus stations include Stevenage Interchange and Broad Marsh Bus Station & MSCP, Nottingham.