The brand-new Richmond cycle hub has officially opened at Richmond Station, offering residents and visitors one of the most advanced cycling facilities in the country.

The multi-storey hub, which provides more than 650 secure cycle parking spaces, is now the third largest facility of its kind in the UK.

Equipped with 24-hour CCTV, the hub is designed to make cycling safer, more convenient and more accessible for everyone in Richmond.

At today's (Friday, 10 October) opening, Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, praised the project as a prime example of collaboration and forward-thinking design.

"This new cycle hub is an absolutely top-notch facility for Richmond and a fantastic example of partnership working that delivers for both residents and visitors alike," he said.

"I'm delighted the Council has played a key role in bringing it to life.

"It also reflects two of our key priorities, encouraging more active forms of travel by providing facilities so people don't need to rely on cars, and continuing to invest in Richmond Town Centre."

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Council's Transport and Air Quality Committee, added: "We're proud to support projects like this that make it easier for people to choose active travel.

By making cycling more convenient, we're helping residents make greener choices, cutting congestion and tackling air pollution."

Richmond borough councillors at the new cycle hub (credit: Richmond Council).

The new hub is filled with sustainable features, including:

• A 60m² living green wall with over 4,000 plants and pollinators
• A 1,500-litre rainwater harvesting system
• On-site solar panels providing renewable energy
• Recycled materials used throughout
• Smart LED lighting for energy efficiency

Backed by a £664,000 investment from Richmond Council and delivered in partnership with South Western Railway (SWR), the project is expected to generate around 24,500kWh of renewable energy each year, promoting greener travel and better cycling infrastructure across the borough.

David Wilby, Regional Development Manager for SWR, said:

"This fantastic new cycle hub, with more than 650 storage spaces, will help our customers leave their cars at home and choose a sustainable way to travel to and from Richmond Station.

"Following our recent restoration of the station's heritage features, we're grateful to Richmond Council for working with us to make this additional investment in a greener future for the area."

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