Celebrating a major milestone as construction of new depot is completed

Celebrating a major milestone as construction of new depot is completed

Guildford Borough Council has marked the completion of its new depot with a ceremonial key handover from main contractor McLaren Construction.

To mark this major milestone in the Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme, the Divisional Director of McLaren Construction joined lead councillors, senior officers and some of the employees involved in the project. 

Guests were given a behind the scenes tour of the building  before gathering in the canteen for speeches to celebrate the occasion.

The new Weyside Depot, as it will be known, is a modern, state-of-the-art, and energy-efficient facility that will bring a range of council services together. It includes a three-storey operational hub with offices, training rooms, meeting spaces and welfare facilities, alongside a fully equipped vehicle workshop. Outside there is a multi-storey car park with electric charging for council vehicles and specialist storage buildings to support essential services.

Cllr Vanessa King, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Economy and Place, said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the vision behind the Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme. Our vision was always to provide new homes supported with the right infrastructure. That vision has enabled us to transform a former landfill site into this modern new depot.

“Moving services to this site will unlock the next phase of the Weyside Urban Village regeneration, helping us deliver much-needed homes and wider benefits for our communities.”

Cllr Angela Goodwin, Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, said:
“Weyside Depot represents a major investment in our services, our staff and our borough. This impressive facility will give our teams the tools and environment they need to deliver the essential services that residents rely on every day.

“Designed to high environmental standards, the building further demonstrates our commitment to creating a more sustainable borough. It will use less energy and water, lower maintenance costs and significantly reduce our carbon emissions.”

Patrick Murphy, Divisional Director at McLaren Construction, stated:
“We are proud to have handed over this high-quality facility to Guildford Borough Council. From the outset, the project has been built on a strong partnership between the Council, our project team and our supply chain partners.

“This depot will provide a modern, sustainable base for essential public services and stands as a testament to the dedication, expertise and collaboration of everyone involved in its delivery.”

The completion of the depot marks a significant achievement for everyone involved in the project and provides a lasting legacy that will support the delivery of vital local services for years to come.

The Council will now begin fitting out the building. The facility is expected to become fully operational later this year, enabling services to relocate and paving the way for the next phase of the Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme.

Notes to Editors 

Weyside Urban Village

The Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme aims to deliver 1,550 high-quality new homes to help meet the borough’s housing needs. It is part of a programme for housing-led regeneration of sites that the Council owns. The scheme will also include new health facilities, community, employment and green spaces, as well as major improvements to existing infrastructure.

This project is part of our delivery plan. 

Our annual Delivery Plan sets out the key actions and initiatives that we plan to deliver. We provide twice-yearly updates. 
Providing decent and affordable homes is one of the Council’s key priorities. Discover how we’re working towards a Greener, Fairer, Thriving Guildford, ensuring everyone has a place to call home. https://www.guildford.gov.uk/corporatestrategy

Photographs supplied:

Ceremonial key handover: left to right – Julian Higson, Strategic Director, Housing, Communities and Environment; Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Vanessa King, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Economy and Place; Cllr Angela Goodwin, Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability; Patrick Murphy, Divisional Director at McLaren Construction; Sam Wolfenden, Project Manager at McLaren.

Ceremonial key handover speeches: Cllr Vanessa King, Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Economy and Place speaking at the new Weyside Depot.

View of newly constructed Weyside Depot (Part of Guildford Borough Council’s Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme)

Aerial view of newly constructed Weyside Depot as part of Guildford Borough Council’s Weyside Urban Village regeneration scheme.

​ Press contact: Beverley Stonehouse – e-mail Beverley.Stonehouse@guildford.gov.uk