Shortly after permission was granted by the Lake District National Park Authority in September 2024, work began on this important new amenity for the village of Coniston.
With so much work to do before the car and coach park can open in early 2025, there wasn’t a moment to lose.
The car park was to be built upon Lands Field, located to the side of the Herdwick Café and to the rear of the Ruskin Museum, the home of Bluebird K7.
One of the first big jobs we undertook was the creation of the brand new entrance on Yewdale Road. This new entrance is vital to allow cars and coaches to enter and leave the car park with minimal disruption to the village.
With the new entrance created next came the ground works.
Over 2,500 tonnes of Cumbrian gravel, locally sourced from Shap Quarry, was delivered, laid and flattened across the site, forming the basis of the new surface of the car park.
In mid-November, the foundations were laid for the new building which will house the car park’s Visitor Information Centre.
From here, visitors will be able pick up free walking and cycling route maps to help them get the best out of their visit to Coniston.
This new building will also house some public loos plus an e-bike hire point. And with connecting mountain biking trails straight from the car park – our e-bikes will offer a new, sustainable and fun way of exploring the Lakes.
The steel which will form the main structure of the new building is currently being manufactured in the Cumbrian capital of Carlisle and is due to be delivered in the coming weeks.
Progress so far has been swift, but there’s still heaps to do before the grand opening in early 2025.
You can follow the progress of the Bluebird Car and Coach Park, Coniston on our dedicated Facebook page.