Mansfield Public Transport Interchange is a modern, fully enclosed bus station that features an 80-metre footbridge connecting to the railway station. Originally constructed in 2013, the building serves approximately 348,680 passengers each week, making it a vital hub for local and regional travel.

As part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), Nottinghamshire County Council and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) are investing in enhanced bus services, upgraded infrastructure, and sustainable transport solutions. This includes funding for new electric buses, improved service frequency, and upgrades to existing facilities to improve passenger comfort and accessibility.

Nottinghamshire County Council appointed Arc Partnership to deliver a package of improvements to the bus station focused on energy efficiency, passenger experience, operational safety and long-term resilience. Our work ensures the bus station continues to meet changing community needs while supporting the Council’s sustainability commitments and the BSIP.

Across four coordinated projects our teams delivered a series of enhancements, including the installation of photovoltaic panels and energy-efficient lighting, upgraded glazing, a redesigned café and mezzanine, providing new office space and installation of electric bus infrastructure. Together, these upgrades create a more efficient, welcoming, and future-ready transport hub.

Working within a live, town-centre location presented several significant logistical challenges and required careful planning and collaboration. With the interchange's operating hours 5am-midnight, to avoid disruption to passengers and operators, all construction activities were scheduled overnight, supported by detailed logistics planning around deliveries, restricted parking, and safe site access. Additional measures included 24-hour security for scaffolding, managed pedestrian diversions, and mitigation strategies to address anti-social behaviour in late-night operating hours.

Despite the complexities of the site and its high footfall, the programme was delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of health, safety, and quality, reflecting our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and sustainable improvements for Nottinghamshire’s public transport network.

Architecturally, the building features an eye-catching undulated roof designed to reflect the surrounding Sherwood Forest landscape. This complex design required a comprehensive scaffolding system to ensure safe access during construction.

To support the Council’s ambition for improved energy performance across its estate, our team installed 148 photovoltaic panels along the roof, generating approximately 40 KWH per day in summer months. This energy will be fed back to the grid, with the project expected to become cost-neutral within two years.

During installation, we identified that the roof lacked a man-safe access system for future maintenance. To address this, we incorporated a dedicated walkway, ensuring safe working conditions for ongoing upkeep.

In preparation for the Council’s long-term vision to introduce an electric bus fleet under the BSIP, we also installed large-capacity battery units to enable charging infrastructure. Energy-efficient LED lighting has been fitted throughout the building to further reduce operational energy consumption.

Delivery of the project required careful planning and coordination with Highways England, Via East Midlands, and the Interchange management team. The height and complexity of the scaffolding meant pavement closures and diversions were necessary to maintain public safety and provide secure access to the site compound. Additional 24-hour security ensured only authorised personnel accessed the scaffolding and roof areas.

Construction activities were carefully timetabled outside the station’s operational hours (5am–11pm) to minimise disruption and maintain safe conditions for both contractors and the thousands of daily passengers. Site-office and compound locations were selected to avoid interference with bus-terminal operations, deliveries, and traffic movements. As the interchange sits within a busy town-centre environment, parking restrictions required coordinated delivery scheduling.

Despite these challenges, the project was delivered on time, on budget, and to the required quality standards, achieving 100% performance across time, cost, and quality measures. Once fully operational, the renewable-energy system is expected not only to offset all associated energy costs, but to generate surplus revenue through export to the grid.

At one end of the interchange sits a double-height space that previously housed a café. Despite the potential of its location, the café closed, largely due to poor thermal efficiency and difficulties maintaining a comfortable environment for users. Nottinghamshire County Council therefore asked Arc Partnership to explore options for reintroducing a café and creating a more welcoming, functional amenities space for passengers.

Our design brief focused on improving usability, enhancing thermal performance and creating a commercially viable lettable space. To achieve this, we introduced a new mezzanine floor, providing additional operational accommodation including two meeting rooms for the bus station team, while retaining the ground level as a flexible, enclosed café area capable of seating around 20 people. New sliding doors were incorporated to help retain heat and support the long-term comfort and efficiency of the space.

The project created a fully serviced shell-ready café unit, complete with a baffled acoustic ceiling, upgraded glazing, security shuttering and a new fire wall to meet current safety standards. New windows were installed and aligned with the mezzanine’s structural layout to ensure a cohesive internal environment.

To support design accuracy and future maintenance planning, the scheme utilised a digital twin model, a virtual representation of the space that uses real-time and predictive data to mirror the behaviour, performance and conditions of the physical environment. This enabled precise coordination and improved decision-making throughout the design and construction process.

Delivering the scheme within an existing structure presented several challenges. The building was already close to its original load limits, requiring careful structural assessment and the installation of a new steel frame to support the mezzanine floor. Electrical heaters were introduced to provide effective and controllable heating in the reconfigured space. As with other elements of the programme, works were undertaken while the interchange remained live, requiring the same high level of logistical planning around access, deliveries, safety, and passenger movement.

The café refurbishment has transformed a previously underused area into a warm, efficient and commercially attractive facility, which once let will significantly enhance the passenger experience and support the long-term vision for a vibrant, amenity-rich interchange.

The 80-metre link bridge provides a vital connection between the Interchange and Mansfield rail station, enabling seamless onwards travel. Over time, persistent antisocial behaviour led to several panes of glass along the walkway becoming cracked or damaged, requiring replacement to restore safety and comfort.

Working alongside the wider upgrades, our team delivered a two-week programme to replace the affected glazing. The original glass panels were large, making replacement more complex, costly and time-consuming. To support easier maintenance in the future, our design team reconfigured the glazing into smaller, more manageable sections, reducing long-term costs and simplifying future access for repairs.

These improvements have enhanced the safety, appearance and long-term maintainability of one of the Interchange's most heavily used passenger routes.

The Mansfield Public Transport Interchange programme demonstrates how Arc Partnership’s multi-agency teams can deliver safe, efficient, and future-ready transport infrastructure in complex, live environments. Through close collaboration with all stakeholders, including Nottinghamshire County Council, Network Rail, Via East Midlands, and local authorities, the project has created a safer, more welcoming environment for passengers and the wider public, while enhancing the building’s operational efficiency and revenue.

The cohesive programme of works showcases Arc Partnership’s ability to coordinate across multiple disciplines, overcome logistical challenges, and deliver tangible value to the community through sustainable, high-quality outcomes.