A SCHEME to give Stanley town centre a multi-million pound facelift is being unveiled today.

The main feature of the £16m project will be the Public Transport Hub, which will include a bus station in the town centre. It will feature solar power, with photo- voltaic cells that store energy absorbed from daylight to provide electricity for light and heating.

Each year, the bus station will generate 13,656 KWh of power - enough to run six households - and save the 9.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions burnt using electricity generated by fossil fuels.

John Davies, managing director of Lumsden and Carroll Construction, which is carrying out the work, said: "This project is visionary. It is the first major new build project in the county to incorporate photovoltaics in the design as an integrated system.

"It has combined safety and comfort for the traveller together with state-of-the-art technology aimed at saving costs and energy."

The station, to be built on the car park behind Front Street, will also feature a new communications systems so travellers can tell if their bus is running late.

Work is expected to begin next month and be completed in autumn, at a cost of £4m.

Temporary facilities will be available for travellers at the existing bus station during the construction period.

When complete, the Public Transport Hub will link Front Street's pedestrian zone and the larger retailer and supermarket areas.

The link will include a pedestrian courtyard-plaza lined with retail units and is expected to inspire the regeneration of commercial and public premises in the area.

The leader of Derwentside District Council, Councillor Alex Watson, said: "Our aim here in Stanley is to improve the town for everyone; to make it safer, more pedestrian friendly and to provide a better shopping experience for visitors and residents alike.

"The scheme provides a great opportunity to connect Front Street and the new public transport facility.

"It will be a catalyst for new opportunities and investment in the town centre and confirms the council's commitment to the regeneration of Stanley, building on our previous multi-million pound investment in the town."

Local companies will undertake the design and construction of the development.

The principal contract was won by Lumsden and Carroll, the civil engineering division of construction company the Esh Group.