New Birmingham Bus Depot Plan Approved Amid Cost and Timeline Concerns
The West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) Investment Board has given the green light to a major plan to construct a new bus depot in East Birmingham, but not without raising significant concerns about potential rising costs and sliding timescales.
Approval for East Birmingham Depot
The board approved the business justification case for building the 110-bus capacity East Birmingham Depot at a site on Lea Ford Road in Kitts Green. According to a report, the project cost is capped at £19,930,000, with Birmingham City Council contributing a minimum of £14,930,000, covering three-quarters of the total bill.
Part of Broader Bus Network Overhaul
This new facility is a key component of the authority's wider strategy to purchase depots across the region. It supports Mayor Richard Parker's ambitious plan to overhaul the bus network and transition it to a franchising model. The existing depot serving this area has already been sold by National Express for redevelopment.
Board Members Voice Worries
During the meeting, Investment Board members highlighted past issues with WMCA transport projects, noting that many have exceeded budgets and faced delays. They expressed fears that history could repeat itself with this depot project.
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird voiced his apprehension, stating, "The size of the project bothers me in as much, traditionally, all transport projects have gone over budget. It's very much like Mastermind really – I've started so I'll finish. As a result, we end up with projects that start up at £50-60 million and all of a sudden we're getting towards the end and it's 'oh, we've made a bit of an error here so we need another £10 million'."
Committee chair Peter Hughes added, "There are always overspends and this needs to be delivered rapidly. It's whether you are going to be coming back, cap in hand, for more money later."
Officers Provide Reassurances
In response, officers assured the board that contingencies are in place to manage risks. Elliot Wilde, Head of Investment – Fleet, explained, "We've got 15 per cent contingency within the budget but we also have several known areas where we could realistically beat scope to bring the budget down if we're seeing upward pressures coming forward. Overall, we have good confidence that we can manage that budget both through the contingency and options to revise the scope."
Tight Timelines and Temporary Solutions
The existing Birmingham depot contract is set to end in December 2027, with the new facility expected to be completed and operational by early 2028. This tight schedule necessitates a temporary stopgap for buses in the area. Councillor Bird expressed doubts about meeting these predicted timescales, citing potential issues with land purchases and the planning process.
Mr Wilde addressed these concerns, stating, "We're moving very quickly to get through to the planning stage and that will be coming forward imminently. The design itself and the building of a depot is not complicated. We've engaged with the wider market and other operators who have gone through the process of building a new depot and they're all happy this is an aggressive but realistic time scale."
Despite the assurances, the project remains under scrutiny as it moves forward, balancing ambitious goals with the practical challenges of budget management and timely delivery in Birmingham's evolving transport landscape.
