Bury Council has announced that it will look for a private company to run a new Prestwich travel hub ahead of its planned opening next summer.
This hub is currently being constructed at a cost of millions of pounds and it will centre on a multi-storey car park. The local authority had initially thought about operating it as a council facility, but has since abandoned that idea. The main reason why it has switched to looking for a private company is that doing so will be the more cost-effective way forward.
The report that it produced found that annual operating costs would be almost halved if the hub were in private hands. This is largely due to the costs of employing people to work there.
When it opens, the new hub will be right in the heart of Prestwich. The chosen location for it is on Fairfax Road, where it will replace the old car park. The total cost of the project is £14 million.
Flyer printing by Prestwich shops can help to spread the word about new local amenities, when they first launch.
The completed hub will have parking space for 301 vehicles and will be on three levels. The council will now put feelers out to see what interest there is among private operators.
It is scheduled to open to the public in July 2026.
