Stockport’s buses could go completely green in two years’ time after local leaders signed off on a bid for nearly £40m to decarbonise its fleet.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority is asking for £36.9m in government cash towards replacing the borough’s 170 diesel buses.
It has partnered with bus-operator Stagecoach to apply for cash from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund.
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Stagecoach would contribute £37.2m towards replacing the fleet, while GMCA would contribute £12.5 funded through prudential borrowing, taking the total cost of the project to £86.5m.
A new home is being sought for the current bus depot, which is earmarked for redevelopment under the Town Centre West regeneration plan - also known as the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).
Stockport council leader Elise Wilson told Friday’s meeting of the combined authority it would be a ‘significant step forward’ for the borough.
She said: “A new bus station depot and electrifying the fleet clearly has a significant impact on our ability to improve air quality and transportation around Stockport.
“And equally, it would really allow the Mayoral Development Corporation to continue to motor ahead on its pipeline of delivery, which is moving, I’m pleased to report, at pace in Stockport.”
Coun Wilson hailed the bid as a ‘hugely positive piece of work’, adding that the partnership with Stagecoach demonstrated an ability to ‘deliver what’s right for the people of Stockport’.
The ZEBRA bid seeks to capitalise on the depot relocation by securing sufficient funds to purchase a zero emission fleet of 170 Battery Electric Buses (BEBs).
This would also ensure the new depot was equipped to operate the fleet by covering the cost of upgrading the grid connection and the associated infrastructure.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said electrifying the fleet would bring ‘a lot of benefits to Stockport - including better air quality and a reduction in noise'.
“I think the quality of life benefits of a bus fleet of this standard is more than pollution,” he said.
“I think it’s a really great thing for Stockport.”
Should it be successful, bosses anticipate that the depot could be operational by spring 2024.
The proposal would support the GM Bus Service Improvement plan by converting around 10pc of the conurbation’s fleet to zero emission technology.
It is expected to cut emissions from the region’s buses by approximately 10,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2038.
The bid will be submitted to the Department for Transport for consideration on Monday (January 31), with a funding announcement expected by Easter this year.
