Bauer Media Outdoor and Essex County Council have unveiled Milestone, a groundbreaking line of bus shelters that prioritises British-grown timber over conventional, carbon-heavy materials, marking a pivotal shift for the UK construction and timber industries. Launched as a cornerstone of the Basildon Greener Route initiative, this project represents the most important evolution in UK street furniture in decades. For the timber industry, it marks a critical “proof of concept” for the use of high-performance, engineered wood in demanding urban environments.
While timber has long been used for aesthetic accents in street furniture, the Milestone range breaks new ground by utilising engineered timber for the structural integrity of the shelters. This is the first time such a material has been used for the primary urban infrastructure of this type in the UK.
The wood—primarily FSC-certified Douglas fir—is responsibly sourced from hand-selected trees in Scotland. By choosing homegrown timber, the project supports the domestic forestry supply chain and significantly reduces “timber miles,” ensuring a low-carbon journey from the forest to the street corner.
The structural components were developed through a high-level consortium including:
- Highland Heritage Woodworks: Providing certified Scottish timber.
- BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation): Scotland’s national innovation centre for construction.
- Edinburgh Napier University & Ecosystems Technologies: Leading the research into timber performance and supply chain integration.
From a sustainability perspective, the figures are a wake-up call for urban planners. The Milestone shelter boasts a 70% lower CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) than a standard three-bay steel or aluminum legacy shelter.
By substituting energy-intensive materials with timber, the project leverages wood’s natural ability to sequester carbon. Each cubic meter of timber used in such projects can store up to a tonne of CO₂, effectively turning public transit stops into miniature carbon sinks.
“Milestone reimagines what a humble bus shelter can be – more sustainable, more comfortable, and more user-focused than ever before,” said Will Ramage, Managing Director at Bauer Media Outdoor. “This is a groundbreaking moment for the public transport experience.”
The 18 Milestone shelters currently being installed along Whitmore Way in Basildon do more than just house passengers. They are designed to integrate with the natural environment through:
- Living roofs & planters: Featuring native wildflowers and plant species to support local pollinators and enhance urban biodiversity.
- Low-carbon foundations: Above-ground foundations allow for faster installation with minimal disruption and ensure the structures can be reused or relocated in the future.
- Solar-powered smart lighting: Reducing the reliance on the grid and enhancing passenger safety during evening hours.
The development of Milestone wasn’t limited to the lab. Insights were gathered from over 3,200 bus users through the Transport Focus panel. Bauer Media Outdoor partnered with disability equality charities Scope and the Thomas Pocklington Trust to ensure the design met the needs of all community members.
Key accessibility features include NaviLens codes for the visually impaired, ergonomic seating with lumbar support, and smart lighting designed to assist those who rely on lip-reading.
This launch aligns with the UK Government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap, which aims to increase the use of wood in the built environment to meet Net Zero 2050 targets. By proving that Scottish Douglas fir can withstand the rigors of public use and variable British weather, Milestone paves the way for wider adoption of timber in other forms of public infrastructure.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, noted: “By investing in greener infrastructure… we’re helping to create a safer, greener and healthier transport network for everyone in Essex.”
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