Prestwich regeneration reaches major milestone with Travel Hub to open

The transformation of Prestwich village centre has reached a major milestone, with the new Travel Hub set to open this autumn as the first completed phase of the wider regeneration of the village.

The Travel Hub provides modern parking in a new staffed and secure building, replacing the current surface level parking.

It includes electric vehicle charging, cycle storage, CCTV and improved connections for people travelling to, from and through Prestwich, creating a convenient gateway to the village centre.

A report to the next Cabinet meeting on 14 October outlines the parking strategy for managing the car park.

The Travel Hub will be run by APCOA and owned by the Council.

If the report is approved by the Cabinet:

• Free parking from 6 pm to midnight to support the evening and night-time economy.
• Competitive parking charges introduced starting at £1 for the first hour
• EV charging to match Bury Market car park rate of 64p per kWh.
• Cycle storage charge of £1 per entry.
• Monthly season ticket of £60 equivalent to £3.00 per day assuming a 48-week, 5-day usage.
• The charges are designed to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the building, including security, staffing, cleaning, maintenance and technology systems.

Without parking charges, the council estimates the facility would cost around £300,000 a year, which would increase in the council's budget gap by £300,000 and require further savings elsewhere.

Usage will be monitored, enabling the tariff structure to be regularly reviewed, with a further report to be brought back to Cabinet at the six-month stage post-implementation.

The Travel Hub is the first visible step in a wider programme that will create new homes, improved public spaces, better community facilities, and stronger support for local businesses.

The wider Prestwich Village regeneration project will deliver a new retail units, including a market hall, new leisure/community facilities, a modern new home for the Prestwich Library and a new attractive public realm, helping create a village centre that is easier to get around, easier to spend time in and ready for the future.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth, said:

"Prestwich is a place people are passionate about and proud to call home.

"The opening of the Travel Hub marks the completion of the first milestone in the wider transformation of Prestwich. This project will create new homes, modern community facilities and better public spaces while supporting local businesses and the long-term future of the village centre.

"This investment is about creating a Prestwich that works better for residents, visitors and businesses, while retaining the character and community spirit that makes the village special.

"We recognise that introducing charges is a change, so it's important to be clear about why we're doing it.

"The Travel Hub is a modern, managed facility with security, staffing, electric vehicle charging and cycle storage. Like any major piece of infrastructure, there are costs associated with operating it safely and effectively.

"The alternative would be for local taxpayers to subsidise those costs. We believe it is fairer that the people using the facility contribute towards its operation, while keeping charges broadly in line with parking tariffs elsewhere in the borough."

The report to go to the meeting of the Council’s Cabinet next week (14 October) highlights that the Travel Hub will be operated by APCOA on behalf of Bury Council and will include 24-hour CCTV, on-site staffing during key operating hours, automatic number plate recognition technology and a cashless payment system.

There will be an automated barrier system and roller shutters to control vehicle entry and exits and provide a safe experience for users of the facility.

Parking charges are proposed to align broadly with existing Bury Town Centre parking tariffs and are intended to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the facility, so that the facility will pay for itself.

The Travel Hub will open following final handover of the building and completion of operational preparations later this autumn. https://councildecisions.bury.gov.uk/documents/s52306/Prestwich%20Phase%201A%20Travel%20Hub%20-%20operations%20strategy%20FINAL.pdf

Notes to editors

• The Travel Hub is the first step of the Prestwich Village Regeneration Project.
• Facilities in the hub include EV charging, cycle storage, CCTV and staffed support.
• APCOA has been appointed as the facility operator.
• Prestwich Village Regeneration Project will deliver new retail units, including a market hall, new leisure/community facilities, a modern new home for the Prestwich Library and new attractive public realm.
• Demolition of the former Longfield Centre has begun as part of the redevelopment.
• The council has formed a Joint Venture with Muse Places Limited (Company number 02717800), referred to as Muse, to deliver the regeneration programme

Proposed tariff structure