MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd continues its Dealer Network investment program with the start of phase-1 of the redevelopment of MAN Truck & Bus Stockton-on-Tees.

Leading commercial vehicle provider MAN Truck & Bus has started the groundworks for a new brownfield facility in Stockton-on-Tees. Development and building works have now commenced next door to the existing site, which remains fully open and operational, with the newly planned facility opening its doors in August 2022.

Stefan Thyssen, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for all involved, MAN Truck & Bus UK, the staff at the existing Stockton-on-Tees facility and the Network Development team.

“Doubling its footprint, when compared to the existing site, the new facility will offer a greater range of compelling customer service solutions and increased workshop throughput, which means we can react even quicker and more efficiently to customer and vehicle service requirements.”

MAN Truck & Bus have had a presence in Stockton-on-Tees since 2002 when they purchased the Bowesfield Lane site from ERF Northern, the long established ERF dealer.

“We’ve seen a continual level of growth in the volume of road transport requirement across the North East of England and have had plans in-place to re-develop the existing Stockton-on-Tees site for a couple of years” commented Stefan. “We purchased a parcel of land directly next to the existing site in 2019 which, due to its roadside position, made it an ideal proposition.”

Measuring 2.3 acres once complete the new Stockton-on-Tees facility will be used to sell, support and maintain the full MAN vehicle offering, from the TGE Van range, starting at 3.0 tonnes and going right up to the 250 tonne TGX heavy haulage tractor and both bus and coach products.

Once built the new facility will offer 18,212 square feet (1692 square meters) of space and will house 10 vehicle repair points, a new light and airy service reception and parts counter area, customer meeting points, dedicated sales offices and hot desks for field based staff. Drivers waiting with vehicles will have a dedicated and comfortable waiting area featuring a digital television, with vending machines for both hot and cold drinks and cold snacks, as well as mobile phone charging points.

To guarantee the new facility is future proof its design incorporates the most modern building techniques and materials. These include using the latest energy efficient insulation methods and rain water harvesting systems and in time the instillation of solar panels. These measurers mean that once the building is operational it will be Net Zero Carbon. Onsite electric charging points will offer customers charge facilities while their vehicles are being serviced, or are on site.

Ensuring staff and visitor welfare is prioritised, the plans for the new build boasts a staff canteen and locker rooms, as well as showers and facilities for male and female members of staff. This attention to detail in the design extends to the thought given to ensure that this new building has the highest level of accessibility for both staff and visitors with disabilities.

The yard, to both the side and rear of the new facility, will offer parking, electric vehicle charging points, a dedicated vehicle washing bay and a new roadside vehicle display area for MAN Truck, Van, Bus and Coach products and MAN TopUsed vehicles.

The maintenance workshops will operate six days a week supporting MAN customers. Vehicle emergency breakdown coverage will be provided through MAN's 24-hour breakdown service, Mobile24, which guarantees a 24/7 emergency roadside assistance partner 365 days of the year.

Located just 600 meters off the busy A135 - A66 junction and just 2.5 miles from the A19, and 13 miles off the main A1, MAN Truck & Bus Stockton-on-Tees lies between the towns of Darlington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough; to the west, north-east and east respectively.

Stefan added, "This investment shows our long term commitment to both the North East and our strong customer base in the area. It also demonstrates a clear promise to the experienced team at the current site who have worked hard to ensure customer satisfaction over the years. The new Stockton-on-Tees facility will allow us to grow further across the area and we're excited to have this opportunity.

“Two years ago, in December 2019, we opened a brand new facility in Gateshead on the Team Valley Trading Estate directly aside the main A1. This has been a huge success and today it offers customers an enhanced and high level of customer service and support to both local operators in the immediate vicinity, customers across the wider Tyne and Wear area and when called upon, customers who’s vehicles are passing by.” concluded Stefan.

The newly-built dealership is part of an ongoing £20m investment programme across the MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd dealer network.