Decarbonising, one building at a time
Construction is underway on the UK’s first Off-Grid commercial vehicle conversion facility
Construction is now underway at CPD Bodies’ Stockton-on-Tees headquarters on what will become the UK’s first fully off-grid, renewable-powered commercial vehicle conversion workshop, a project set to redefine sustainable manufacturing in the UK LCV sector.
A substantial six-figure initial investment marks a major step in CPD’s commitment to operate entirely on green energy by the end of 2026. When complete, the new facility will run primarily on on-site solar generation supported by battery storage, forming a self-sufficient energy ecosystem designed to cut operational carbon emissions by an estimated 62% in its first year.
Founded in 2009, CPD Bodies is one of the UK’s most agile LCV sales and conversion specialists, delivering expertly built, road-ready commercial vehicles. With a large stock of unregistered chassis, on-site Type-Approved conversions, OEM-compliant builds, transparent digital production tracking and award-winning customer service, CPD offers a true end-to-end solution for SMEs through to national fleets. North East customers include Bell Truck and Van, Dawsons and Northumbrian Water. This agility and vertical integration allow CPD to respond rapidly to evolving market and regulatory demands; an advantage now being applied directly to environmental transformation.
Alongside the off-grid facility, CPD has secured certified green electricity for all remaining workshops from 2026 onwards and is rolling out site-wide solar installations across its Teesside manufacturing campus.
The project comes during a period of significant recognition for the North East manufacturer. CPD has been shortlisted for the 2026 Made in the North East Awards in the Sustainable/Ethical Manufacturer category; won What Van? Converter of the Year and has been shortlisted for Fleet News Converter of the Year.
Founder and Managing Director Cathal Doocey commented, “This is not about future ambition, it’s about action. Construction being underway demonstrates our belief that sustainable manufacturing must be commercially viable and regionally rooted. We are investing here in the North East to create a facility that supports green jobs, strengthens our customers’ supply chain credentials and reduces our environmental impact in measurable terms.”
The new facility will open during the week commencing 12 May 2026, with customers, suppliers and OEM partners invited to a series of launch events at CPD’s expanded visitor and training centre.
As steel begins to rise on site, CPD Bodies is positioning itself not only as a vehicle conversion specialist, but as a renewable-powered manufacturing partner for the next generation of UK fleets.
