2021/22 Arriva North West orders & subsequent cascades

[iMarkeh]

RE: 2021/22 Arriva North West orders & subsequent cascades
I can't see that this has been answered so I am wondering if someone can explain why has Arriva opted for 3 different lengths for the Streetlites? Seems a strange thing to do when you intend on using them on primarily 2 routes and they haven't ordered enough of any length for allocation to be simple (10.8s for the 49 then the 9.5 for the 46 for example). Especially the 8.8m one. Just a single one of that size is a random one. Is there any logic behind why this single bus of this size was ordered?

Surely you'd want to upgrade a full route, not just give a depot some new buses to splatter around. Especially where the new buses are a different type to that already available and people will specifically notice that it is a new bus. Green Lane Streetdecks make sense because they already have some so passengers may not see the difference between the brand new and the 66 plates)