£5million improvement project at a key South Tyneside depot is officially complete
A multi-million-pound transformation project at South Tyneside’s Middlefields Depot is complete.
A £5million project to transform South Tyneside’s Middlefields Depot into a more efficient, modern and safer working environment has been officially completed.
The project has seen the total transformation of the 60,000 sq m site, with North East-based architect Howarth Litchfield overseeing the work.
It involved the reorganisation of the site to improve traffic flow and operational efficiency - with the Highways Department being relocated to an alternative site being a key component of the project.
The relocation allowed for the creation of dedicated areas for fleet parking, staff parking, an MOT area and refuse vehicle storage.
Additional improvements at the Middlesfield Depot included a new gatehouse, a bin store and clearly defined, safe pedestrian routes throughout the site.
‘This investment has modernised the depot’
Cllr Susan Sybenga, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, has welcomed the completion of the project and hopes that it will provide a better base for the teams working out of the site.
She said: “We are delighted to see the completion of these essential works at our Middlefields Depot.
“By reorganising the site and introducing dedicated parking and better staff facilities, we have created a much-improved working environment for our frontline teams who deliver vital services every day.
“This investment has modernised the depot, improved the layout of the site and enhanced facilities for staff.
“It provides a more efficient and practical base for the teams and vehicles that support the delivery of key council services across the borough, including the provision of new vehicle charging facilities.”
‘Fit for the future’
Dave Pickersgill, Technical Director at Howarth Litchfield, has revealed that Middlefields Depot is now “fit for the future” following the completion of the work.
He added: "Middlefields has been a rewarding yet complicated project that required intense coordination and quick reactions from the entire design team.
“Working within a live, 24-hour operational site presented significant logistical challenges, which were further compounded by the discovery of numerous unknown underground obstructions during the excavation phase.
“Despite these obstacles, we have successfully modernised the site’s infrastructure.
“Our focus was on rationalising the space to address long-standing issues with site security, vehicle movement and staff facilities, ensuring the depot is fit for the future".