Major milestone for bus franchising as Combined Authority secures new Peterborough depot site 

Major milestone for bus franchising as Combined Authority secures new Peterborough depot site 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has today completed the purchase of land (Tuesday 4th August) for a new bus depot in Tyrrell Park, Peterborough, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey towards bus franchising. 

Securing the site represents a major step forward for the project. While the depot will not become operational immediately, the Combined Authority will continue to progress the further work required to bring the facility into use and support a modern bus fleet.  

As part of the Combined Authority’s commitment to delivering a reliable, affordable and integrated transport network, the new depot will play a vital role in supporting the future operation of franchised bus services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The site will provide key operational facilities, including fleet maintenance and driver dispatch. It is not intended to be a public-facing facility or passenger interchange. 

The depot will form a critical part of the infrastructure needed to support economic growth and deliver a more sustainable transport network across the region. 

By taking ownership of key depot infrastructure, the Combined Authority will reduce barriers to entry for bus operators, enabling companies of all sizes to compete fairly for contracts to run local services. Greater competition will help deliver better value for money while supporting more frequent, reliable and better-connected bus services for communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

The Combined Authority has been working in partnership with Peterborough City Council to develop this project. It also responds to the barriers to growth, identified in the Local Growth Plan that need to be overcome including transport constraints and the need to improve people’s access to transport. 

Mayor Paul Bristow, said: 

 “Securing this depot is an important step forward in improving bus services for local people. Better buses matter because they help people get to work, school, appointments and the places they need to be.  

“Reliable bus services are a lifeline, especially for our rural communities, connecting people to jobs, education and health services. By taking control of our transport network, we can build a system that works better for residents, saves people money in the long term and helps make our communities healthier, wealthier and happier.” 

Councillor Angus Ellis, cabinet member for transport at Peterborough City Council, said:  

“We have known for a long time that the current bus depot location in Peterborough is no longer fit for purpose. This relocation will free up much-needed space in the Millfield community, as well as creating a more accessible bus depot which is greatly needed in our city. It fits in with our wider plans for the growth of Peterborough, as well as providing the means for more efficient bus services in Peterborough in the here and now. 

“The new depot will also allow for electric buses to be rolled out, for the first time in Peterborough. This will be better for the environment and more cost effective and help future-proof public transport for our long-term future.”