Somerset Council has announced that construction on Taunton’s new £3.7 million transport hub will commence shortly after Christmas. Funded primarily by the Department for Transport (DfT), this project aims to replace the obsolete Tower Street facility, which closed in March 2020, enhancing bus and coach services as part of the council’s multi-year Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
Initial community consultations were conducted in summer 2024, with further input gathered from Taunton Town Council in June 2025 regarding potential community uses for some existing site buildings. The council has now awarded a contract worth nearly £2 million to oversee the main construction phase, targeting a late summer 2026 opening.
The new hub will include six ‘drive in, drive out’ bus stops equipped with individual shelters to prevent buses from reversing onto Tower Street, improving safety and flow. Additionally, two coach stops will be located along Castle Way near Mecca Bingo, facilitating smooth transitions between local and nationwide coach services. The design incorporates five layover bays to ease town centre congestion, and each bus shelter will boast seating and solar panels.
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For passenger convenience, real-time information boards will be installed, alongside an indoor waiting area with toilets and a Changing Places facility featuring accessible parking. The exterior will be pedestrianised, incorporating outdoor seating, greenery, bicycle parking, and new crossings linking the hub to Goodlands Gardens and existing active travel networks.
Robert Downes, the council’s regeneration and major projects officer, highlighted that the hub aims to open in August 2026, aligning with the seasonal bus timetable adjustment in September. The operational plan will address peak demand and service integration with other transport links.
Although the council explored adding commercial spaces like cafés or retail units, these options were scrapped due to limited funding, low demand, and a saturated local food and drink market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the former bus station served as an NHS vaccination centre, but plans for continued NHS use of the new hub were not feasible due to required parking reductions.
Taunton Town Council is planning to transform parts of the site’s buildings by installing lifts, creating community spaces, rentable offices, and new public toilets. This collaboration aims to reduce costs and risks while fostering a versatile transport and community hub.
The project’s total estimated cost is £3.76 million, including a contingency fund to cover potential increases in materials. Funding sources include around £3.46 million from BSIP grants and an additional £300,000 from the DfT’s local transport grant. The construction is split into six contracts to manage costs efficiently, with the main contract valued at approximately £2 million.
Somerset Council will fund the hub’s operations through its BSIP revenue grant until March 2029. Beyond that, costs may shift to Somerset Council or Taunton Town Council unless further central government support is secured.