New gritter and bin lorry depot to cost £13m

A contract to build a new council depot to store bin lorries, gritters and tonnes of salt is expected to cost £13m.

Sunderland City Council wants to replace its Houghton-le-Spring depot at Market Place Industrial Estate with a new site on Cygnet Way at Rainton Bridge Business Park.

The Reform-led authority said its current facility was "not fit for purpose" and not replacing it would present "a significant risk" to delivery of its services.

A report published ahead of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday recommended the council agrees to award the contract for the project to its preferred bidder, chosen among eight firms that put themselves forward. The firm has not yet been named publicly.

The council already has planning permission for the Cygnet Way site, which would include office space, a garage for specialist vehicles, a workshop and a 8,000 tonne salt barn.

The report said: "The facility has been designed to accommodate a significant proportion of the council's operational fleet, including refuse collection vehicles, bulky waste vehicles, highway gritters, mechanical sweepers, grounds maintenance vehicles, tractors and specialist operational equipment."

Previously the council said its current Market Place depot was too small and issues included the energy efficiency of the buildings, increased traffic and road safety issues in the area.

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