Metrolink Capacity Improvement Programme (MCIP)

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 (2040 Strategy) focuses on how a more integrated and reliable transport system can help to tackle the critical long-term challenges facing the city-region, which includes anticipated population growth, productivity, air pollution, health and social inclusion.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) launched a five-year Delivery Plan in parallel to the release of the 2040 Strategy, which provides an opportunity to ensure that the long-term challenges outlined in the overarching 2040 Strategy are being tackled effectively in the near term, by taking emerging trends and new priorities into account.

The plans are underpinned by TfGM’s transport vision of ‘world class connections that support long-term, sustainable economic growth and access to opportunity for all.’ The vision is supported by four key areas:

Supporting sustainable economic growth;
Improving quality of life for all;
Protecting our environment; and
Developing an innovative city-region.

The March 2018 meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), approved funding for the procurement of 27 new trams, works to facilitate a new expanded service pattern via tram depot and power system expansions, and the creation of greater access to that capacity in the form of improved car parking facilities. The Metrolink Capacity Improvement Programme (MCIP) was created to deliver this commitment and the benefits it will bring:

Benefit 1: Increased capacity at key growth areas to support sustainable economic growth.
Benefit 2: Increased number of people using public transport to contribute to the protection of the environment by reducing emissions.
Benefit 3: Maintaining the attractiveness of Metrolink by providing greater access to the Metrolink network which supports future growth.
Benefit 4: Contributing to the attractiveness of Greater Manchester to visit and invest, and a resilient, well connected, transport system.

Several Park & Ride sites have been specifically selected to reflect anticipated demand and to complement proposed service patterns, which in turn will deliver increased passenger capacity. The proposals include expansions of the existing Radcliffe and Whitefield Park & Ride sites and the creation of a new Park & Ride facility adjacent to the Withington Metrolink stop on the East Didsbury line.

Please see below for some of our current projects.

Radcliffe & Whitefield Park & Ride expansions

The objective of these schemes is to increase the capacity at the current Park & Ride sites by expanding the existing decked car parks to allow greater access to the Metrolink network and the additional capacity that will be delivered through deployment of the 27 additional trams.

Project Outputs

Reduction in unsociable parking in the immediate residential area;
Increased number of parking spaces, which maintains the attractiveness of Metrolink by providing greater access to the Metrolink network and the additional capacity generated through deployment of the 27 new trams, supporting future growth;
Increased capacity at key growth areas to support sustainable economic growth;
Contribution to the attractiveness of Greater Manchester to visit and invest, and provide a resilient, well connected, transport system; and
Increased patronage and use of public transport, contributing to the protection of the environment by reducing emissions.

The schemes will increase capacity by:

Radcliffe Park & Ride - circa. 111 additional parking bays; and
Whitefield Park & Ride – circa. 123 additional parking bays.

The additional decks to the car parks will be:

Consistent with the existing decks, with the scale and proportions appropriate for the location, reflected in the lightweight steel frame structure;
Lighting will include shielded luminaires and spill protection; and
Landscaping will be enhanced on the boundary of the sites.

The schemes were approved by Bury Council’s Planning Committee in November 2020, and construction is proposed to begin in the second half of 2021. To ensure safety, maintain operational provision and efficiency during the construction process, the existing Whitefield and Radcliffe car parks will need to be closed during the works. The Whitefield facility will close for construction first and then re-open, ahead of the Radcliffe facility closing for construction later in 2021 and re-opening again in Winter 2021/22.

In addition, a separate planning application has been submitted to Bury Council seeking permission to build a Temporary Park & Ride facility to provide sufficient car parking spaces during construction of the expansions in order to minimise disruption.

3D Visuals of Radcliffe Park & Ride expansion

3D Visuals of Whitefield Park & Ride expansion

Temporary Park & Ride

The proposed site for the Temporary Park & Ride facility is located to the rear of Radcliffe Leisure Centre with access via Spring Lane, just a few minutes’ walk from the Radcliffe Park & Ride and Metrolink stop.

There will be clear signage to the Temporary Park & Ride facility in advance of and during the closures of the Radcliffe and Whitefield park and ride sites, and TfGM will inform customers, via signage on the Metrolink stops, PA announcements and on social media.

In addition to the new Temporary Park & Ride facility, the drop-off point and Blue Badge spaces will remain available at Radcliffe Park & Ride throughout the construction of both site expansions. Unfortunately, due to a combination of site constraints and ensuring scheme delivery in the safest possible manner, we are unable to retain the drop-off and Blue Badge spaces at Whitefield during construction but have factored in sufficient spaces to support the demand at the Radcliffe park and ride location.

Temporary Park & Ride Proposal

Temporary Park and Ride

Have Your Say and Further Information

If you have any questions or would like further information on the Radcliffe & Whitefield Park & Ride expansions, and the proposed Temporary Park & Ride facility, please contact our Customer Relations team:

Phone: 0161 244 1000
Email: Customer.Relations@tfgm.com

The Temporary Park & Ride planning application has been submitted to Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) and is currently under review. You will find more details and can submit comments on the application via the BMBC planning portal

Temporary Car Park application reference: 66098

Withington Park & Ride

Withington Metrolink stop is the third proposed Park and Ride scheme under MCIP.

The proposed Park and Ride could deliver in excess of 200 spaces with a new surface car park. TfGM is currently developing proposals, in conjunction with MCC, for their consideration.

Adjacent to the proposed site, there is a protected nature area, which Metrolink created during the construction of the East Didsbury Metrolink line, which would be retained. As part of the proposed scheme, a number of existing trees would need be removed to accommodate the Park and Ride however, the design is being developed to minimise the number of trees that would require removal and TfGM is exploring options for tree replacement that would, as a minimum, be replaced upon a like-for-like basis (in terms of tree numbers) either on site and / or in alternative locations where agreed.