Sunderland City Council has provisionally awarded a £10.1 million contract to Meldrum Construction Services Group for the Houghton fleet depot, which includes EV charging infrastructure alongside fleet garages and facilities. The award was announced on 6 August 2026 and remains subject to standstill. The charging element forms part of the broader depot build, with the main contractor likely to procure EV suppliers through its own supply chain.
Why it matters: The contract highlights how depot electrification work typically flows through construction firms rather than direct tenders, meaning charging suppliers must target the main contractor's subcontracting pipeline. At over £10 million, the project reflects growing municipal investment in electrified fleet infrastructure, though the charging portion represents only a fraction of the total spend.