The design is based on the New Routemaster, sharing the majority of body panels up to the rear quarter section but having no second staircase or third door.

The Wright SRM is styled like the New Routemaster with a tall wrap-around windscreen, an upper deck double-curvature windscreen and an arched roof - however Transport for London (TfL) have had no involvement with designing the Wright SRM.

[4] The first six Volvo B5LHs entered service with London Sovereign on route 13 in September 2016.

[6] One was retained by Volvo Buses in Sweden for further trials before being delivered to London;[7] both commenced trial service with London Central on route 37 in 2018,[8][9] however they entered service on the 37 as hybrid electric buses after TfL abandoned plans to install opportunity charging gantries at the 37's termini at Peckham bus station and Putney Heath, stating there was insufficient space at both.

The model remained available for order right up until Wrightbus entered administration in 2019, although no further examples were built.