New sustainable offices open at Toutley Depot for long-term partners and council teams

The teams that keep Wokingham clean, green and moving now have a modern, sustainable home - one of the most energy-efficient council buildings in the borough.

Why the new Toutley Depot offices matter for Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council has officially opened its new offices at Toutley Depot, creating a base for the long-term partners who deliver essential services across the borough, alongside council staff. 

The new facility replaces the previous 1970s building, which had reached the end of its life, and creates a shared hub where council teams and long-term partners can work side-by-side. 

This closer collaboration enables more efficient planning, faster decision-making and better coordination on essential services. 

It also allows teams to share best practice, learn from each other and adopt consistent ways of working - all of which help deliver high-quality services for residents while reducing costs and carbon.

The official opening was marked with a tour of the new facilities and photographs with representatives from the council and partners, including Volker Highways (responsible for maintaining our roads), Tivoli (which cares for our green spaces), and FCC Environment (which keeps our streets clean).

A modern, sustainable design

Designed with sustainability and flexibility in mind, the offices feature an EPC A rating – putting it among the top one per cent most energy-efficient buildings in the UK, modular insulated construction, air source heat pumps, 12 electric vehicle charging points, sensor-based lighting and are ready for future solar panels. 

Inside, partner and council teams will benefit from open-plan workspaces, welfare areas for crews, changing rooms, showers, kitchen facilities, a conference room air-conditioning and cycle commuting amenities.

Supporting essential services across the borough

The depot also houses the council’s fleet of gritters, bin lorries, response vehicles and road sweepers, ensuring teams can respond quickly and effectively to residents’ needs.

What’s next for the depot

Relocating the offices marks the completion of the first phase of the project. 

Work on the second phase is now underway, which will deliver a new salt barn, improved internal and external storage areas and better fleet parking for our partners. 

This next phase is expected to take around two years to complete.

What council leaders say

Katrin Harding, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:

“This new building helps us keep the borough clean and green while minimising our environmental impact. 

“Achieving an EPC A rating means the depot has excellent insulation, uses air source heat pumps and is ready for solar panels. These features will help reduce our carbon footprint and keep running costs down. The roof is also solar panel ready, which would mean it could help power the site and even generate income by selling surplus energy back to the grid.

“By investing in a sustainable base like this, we are giving our teams the facilities they need to deliver essential services efficiently while keeping costs and emissions low.”

Adrian Betteridge, Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways at Wokingham Borough Council, said:

“Close collaboration with our long-term partners is vital to delivering essential services efficiently and consistently. By bringing everyone together under one roof, we can share best practice, coordinate more effectively and respond quickly to residents’ needs.

“This new base gives our teams the facilities they need to work side by side – from proper welfare spaces like showers and changing rooms to areas for planning and coordination.

“We’ve also included cycling facilities and EV charging points so our workforce can travel here sustainably.”

The new depot can accommodate up to 150 staff working flexibly across sites and offices, including teams from Volker Highways, Tivoli and FCC Environment. 

Together, these teams will keep Wokingham Borough clean, green and moving - while reducing costs and carbon for years to come.