A Guide to Bus Shelter Specification and Installation

25 June 2025 | Tags: , ,

Photograph of a Littlethorpe bus shelter in a new-build estate.

Specifying and installing a bus shelter might seem like a complex process, but with the right information and the right suppliers, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re working as part of a parish council or a local authority looking to improve or replace public transport infrastructure, understanding the key steps involved can help you plan and budget effectively while avoiding unnecessary delays or problems down the road.

This guide covers some of the key areas involved—from planning & ground works to installation—so you gather the information you need to make the best decision. Our team has extensive experience working with councils and highways authorities, so if you have any questions remaining at the end of reading this—give us a call, we’re always happy to help.

1. What Does Your Community Need?

Every bus shelter specification should start with one key question: What does the community need? A shelter is more than just a structure—it’s a space that serves people every day, offering protection, convenience, and a sense of place. Understanding your community’s specific requirements will help guide your choices in design, location, and features.

Some questions you could ask are:

Who will be using the bus shelter and what are their needs?

Understanding who relies on the shelter can shape key decisions. If it’s used by commuters, features like real-time information displays and lighting can improve convenience and safety. For school children, a large passenger capacity might be needed for a shelter that might be quiet for the majority of the day. In areas with elderly users, accessibility considerations such as removing trip hazards and providing seating with sturdy arm rests can make a big difference. Thinking about how people use the space ensures the shelter truly serves its purpose.

Where is the bus shelter located and what weather protection is needed?

Shelters in open locations may need full depth side panels to protect against strong winds and rain, whereas those in more protected locations might be better with half depth sides to aid with visibility and to help keep the shelter footprint compact. Shelters on busy high streets will want to maximise the amount of glazing to aid with visibility for both those using the shelter and those moving around the shelter, however, rural shelters may want to minimise glazing to reduce the ongoing maintenance cost of replacing broken glazing. A well thought out shelter should provide the right balance of protection from the elements and visibility through glazing, whilst balancing the ongoing cost of ownership.

Will the bus shelter design compliment the space aesthetically or stick out?

A shelter should feel like it belongs in its environment. In heritage areas, a traditional timber design with a pitched roof can seamlessly blend into the surroundings, while in modern high streets, a flat-roofed shelter with a clean, minimalist finish might be a better fit. Some locations, such as in town centres or transport hubs, might benefit from bold colours, available via our colour matching service. Whether blending in or making a statement, the design should reflect the character of the space it serves. A timeless space should have a timeless shelter design.

2. What Permissions Are Required?

In most cases, bus shelters installed on public highways require approval from the local highways authority but don’t require planning permission. However, if the shelter is being installed on private land, you may need to apply for planning permission from the local council. Our shelters are designed to require minimal groundwork and we can provide ground plan drawings to simplify applications.

A man and woman discussing a landscape planWhat to check:

  • Is the shelter within a conservation area or near a listed building?
  • Does the location require additional heritage or environmental considerations?
  • Is the land part of the highway or privately owned? 
  • If the shelter is being installed on the highways do you have the appropriate highways licences?
  • Is your installer NRSWA qualified? (New Roads and Street Works Act)
  • If the shelter is on private land, has the local planning department been consulted?
  • If the shelter is on the highway, has the local highways authority been consulted?

Site Surveys 

Before installation, a site survey is essential to ensure the shelter can be installed. Basic checks can easily be performed to make sure the proposed shelter fits. This includes ensuring that no manholes or utility covers are within the shelter footprint, at least 1.2m of unobstructed footway is maintained (1.5m for shared cycleways) and at least 0.5m of horizontal clearance between the shelter and the carriageway. We regularly build bespoke custom size shelters to maintain the required clearances on tight sites. So if your site is tight, send us the dimension of the site and we can advise what will fit.

A more technical survey might be undertaken by an NRSWA qualified installer if underground services are present or traffic management is required. Littlethorpe shelters are supplied fully assembled, foundation preparations are minimised and the need for a complete concrete base can be eliminated, allowing installation into existing pavements. 

Key considerations include:

  • Underground utilities: Checking for gas, water, or electricity lines.
  • Overhead obstructions: Ensuring there are no low-hanging cables or trees that could interfere with installation.
  • Traffic management, will basic signage and guarding be sufficient or will temporary traffic lights be required? (an NRSWA qualified installer can advise) 

3. The Installation Process

At Littlethorpe, we don’t just supply high-quality hardwood bus shelters—we consider the entire process to make things as straightforward as possible. We can supply and install shelters across the UK using either our in-house NRSWA qualified staff or subcontracting to NRSWA qualified ground-workers. We also offer a supply only service if you have a local groundworks company you would prefer to use. Littlethorpe shelters arrive fully assembled to significantly reduce on site labour costs, local disruption and make installations quicker and more cost-effective. 

Installing a Littlethorpe bus shelter typically follows these steps:

  1. Site preparation – clearing debris, overhanging branches and marking out foundation points.
  2. Groundworks – preparing the foundations and any surrounding groundworks..
  3. Shelter delivery – transported fully assembled on the back of a crane lorry for delivery into pre prepared foundations.
  4. Final installation – accepting the delivery of the shelter and backfilling around the shelter legs with concrete before completing any finishing touches.

General Costs to Consider

The total cost of bus shelter installation can vary depending on specification, location, groundwork requirements, and additional permissions needed. Whether choosing a budget or a premium shelter, the cost to install the shelter will be similar. Choosing a longer lasting, premium shelter can save considerable costs over the lifetime of the shelter. In a lot of cases a shelter can be installed using only basic traffic management (TM). However if the shelter is being installed on a busy road or near a junction, you may require more significant TM such as traffic lights. A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to manage road closures or traffic diversions can sometimes be required but in our experience this is rarely required for a bus shelter installation. Because our shelters are delivered pre-assembled, installation is much faster—reducing the duration that the traffic management is needed for.

Here are some key costs to factor into your budgeting and planning:

  • Shelter purchase.
  • Planning or licence fees (if applicable).
  • Groundworks and foundation preparation.
  • Utility checks and surveys.
  • Traffic management costs.

Littlethorpe bus shelters are:

✅ Delivered fully assembled.

✅ Pre-coated in your chosen colour.

✅ Built for durability.

✅ Designed to last in excess of 50 years.

From initial enquiry to final installation, we can support you every step of the way. If you’re considering a new bus shelter, get in touch to discuss your project with our team.

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