Merry Hill bus station revamp gets started next week

The revamp of the shopping centre bus station will begin on Monday, January 16, and is being carried out by intu and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

According to the developers, the station refit is due to be completed by late spring and during this time the car park near Matalan will be partially closed.

The remodelled bus station represents a £550,000 investment from intu, owners of the shopping centre.

The investment acknowledges the high number of shoppers who arrive at the shopping centre by bus, which intu says is as high as one in five.

When completed the renovated bus station will feature real-time information boards and new enclosed shelters with covered walkways and automatic doors.

The covered walkways will be in between the bus terminals, to help improve safety for pedestrians.

Dan Murphy, the general manager at intu Merry Hill, said: "Intu has £600 million of development planned over the next three years with something happening at every centre.

"These developments create sought-after destinations for our customers and our retailers.

"The modernisation of the bus station is the first stage of an on-going scheme of improvements here at intu Merry Hill which shoppers will experience over the coming years.

"Around one in five of our shoppers arrive by bus, so we want the bus station to meet the high standards they have come to expect from the rest of the centre."

Councillor Richard Worrall, chairman of TfWM, added: "Intu Merry Hill is one of the biggest retail and employment centres in the West Midlands and good public transport links and infrastructure are of huge importance, so I am delighted we are able to work with intu in improving bus facilities there."

The bus station will remain open throughout the redevelopment but some stands will no longer be in use for travellers.

More information on stand changes are available by visiting www.networkwestmidlands.com