Works will soon be taking place to refurbish Stanley Bus Station after it received £2.5m in funding from the North East Combined Authority.

The bus station is set to be modernised and upgraded following a successful bid from Durham County Council to enhance the accessibility, safety and security of the site.

The refurbishment will bring improvements to the interior and exterior of the building with the first phase starting on Tuesday 7 April, with an aim to complete works to the structure in autumn 2026.

The station will remain fully operational throughout, but services will be operating from different stands while works take place.

Between Tuesday 7 April and Thursday 9 April, bus stands F to K will be closed and all services will be operating from stands A to E. Residents and visitors will be able to access and exit the station through the main entrance of the building.

From Friday 10 April until summer 2026, bus stands A to E will be closed and all services will operate from stands F to K. Users will be able to access and exit the station through the east entrance door during this time, and public toilet facilities will be closed.

This alternating system for bus stands will continue as refurbishment works take place from summer to autumn, details of which will be released at a later date.

Cllr Tim McGuinness, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, said: “These refurbishments will bring vital improvements to Stanley Bus Station so it can better serve residents and visitors, and alternating bus stands will ensure that the site can remain fully operational while works take place.

“We’re pleased to have been able to carry out work on the building so quickly and that residents and visitors can expect a more modern, accessible and safer bus station when the redevelopment is complete.”

Works to the station will see upgrades to digital and interactive passenger information displays throughout the site, while a new seating layout and a designated wheelchair area will lead to an improved waiting area.

New lighting and CCTV will enhance safety, meanwhile, new flooring will aid passengers with visual impairments. Work outside the structure will see upgraded access to the bus station by widening the link to the footpath and the building to help passengers with mobility issues.

The works form part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, bringing upgrades to infrastructure, reliability, and improving safety and accessibility.