Improvements to Key Council Depot Get Underway

Work is underway on the reconfiguration of a South Shields industrial estate from which a range of essential Council services are delivered.

Middlefields Depot, on Heddon Way, currently accommodates services including highways construction, waste collection services, fleet and maintenance, business support as well as greenspace and street scene teams. The site also provides facilities for third party organisations relating to recycling, waste transfer and materials storage.

The £6.6m project involves reconfiguring the site layout to operate more efficiently as well as improving traffic flow and parking. In addition, it will make improvements in relation to the safety and security for both staff and visitors to the estate. The changes also help to reduce maintenance costs and energy consumption.

Site modernisation improvements include a new gatehouse and significant security improvements, additional lighting and dedicated parking for all vehicles. There will also be a new segregated external storage area for housing services, green space and fleet and improved bin storage facilities. The depot is also being future-proofed particularly in relation to electric vehicle charging facilities for the Council's fleet.

Councillor Jane Carter, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for governance, finance and corporate services, said: "Middlefields is a key operational site accommodating a variety of Council services and external partners.

"The site has developed organically over time and has become inefficient in terms of layout and configuration. By providing this investment, we are delivering much-needed improvements that make better use of the land and provide a better working environment for the teams on site.

"The changes, which also include the rationalisation of buildings, will help to reduce maintenance costs and energy consumption. We continue to work closely with our partners to ensure core services continue to be delivered for our residents."

The scheme has been designed by Howarth Litchfield and is being delivered by Hall Construction.

Robert Hall, of Hall Construction, said: "We are delighted to be chosen by South Tyneside Council to improve the facility at Middlefields Depot, following works we completed in 2020.

"The significant investment in the depot will create an excellent platform for the future of the Council's services."

The project is being delivered in phases to allow the site to remain operational 24/7 and support the businesses that need to access the site at all times. There will be no impact on the Recycling Village, which does not form part of the project.

It is due to be completed in spring 2026. Residents should see no change to service delivery.