Our team is working in partnership with Atkins to design a new bus interchange in Dudley for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The new facility replaces an existing bus station which is being relocated due to the route of a proposed extension to the Midland Metro Tram network.
Our specialists are supporting the development of a new concept layout based upon a ‘Drive in-Reverse out’ (DIRO) mode of use. The new bus interchange will provide connectivity with the proposed new metro stop and enhanced pedestrian and cycling links between Dudley Town Centre and the interchange.
Waterman is supporting the project from concept layouts through to planning, providing business case support and detailed design and construction support, subject to funding. Our experts are providing a range of services, including external infrastructure design incorporating highways, drainage and street lighting, Principal Designer role, environmental preplanning and planning support spanning ecology, noise and archaeology, flood risk assessment, geotechnical and geo-environmental investigations and design, road safety audits, new and amended traffic orders.
Following a detailed review of the project with WMCA it became apparent that the original brief did not provide a suitable long-term solution for bus operations in the area, resulting in WMCA acquiring an adjacent disused building. With this enlarged site we were able to develop an enhanced transport hub based upon the DIRO layout. The new arrangement also provided the opportunity for new retail space that WMCA could lease or sell.
The commission reached a milestone in June 2020 when the planning conditions were discharged, and the preliminary design was completed for a design and build procurement route. Waterman prepared the drawings, specification and contract documents for the tender and will be supporting WMCA during the tender evaluation process. In order to achieve this milestone, our team undertook further surveys and environmental tasks including ground investigation, bat surveys, arboricultural surveys and air quality assessments.
Client: West Midlands Combined Authority
Architect: Atkins
