Work starts on new £8m council depot

Work has started on a new £8.8m council depot in Grantham.

South Kesteven District Council said the facility in Turnpike Close would accommodate a range of services including waste, park maintenance and street cleaning services, along with more than 250 staff.

The authority said the depot would enable services to expand to meet the needs of a growing population.

The current depot in Alexandra Road, built in the 1970s, was now at the end of its operational life, a spokesperson said.

Councillor Richard Cleaver, the authority's cabinet member for property and public engagement, said the current depot was no longer fit-for-purpose.

He added: "This is a significant capital investment that demonstrates [the council's] commitment to future-proofing services for our residents."

Meanwhile, council leader Ashley Baxter said the new depot would benefit staff, as well as having a positive impact on the authority's carbon reduction ambitions.

“The new depot building has been designed with energy efficiency in mind [and] will be cheaper to run," he said.

“There will be drying areas for staff, plus a canteen and training facilities, alongside an emergency planning facility and the infrastructure to enable increased use of electric vehicles, which will save money on traditional fuel costs," he added.

The authority said the current depot would remain operational until the new site was ready in 2025/26.

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