The 196-year-old train station in Rochdale is set to get a huge makeover as part of a wider redevelopment in the area.
Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) wants to transform the entrance of the station, which is a major gateway into town centre. Proposals would see a new 25m long canopy created with a green roof covered with vegetation alongside new planters, seating and bike racks.
The proposals would also support a project to improve the station's underpass which is likely to be delivered in the future.
This forms part of a wider multi-million-pound regeneration in the area. The massive scheme includes a new station square and new homes at the former central retail park site as well as apartments on the corner of Station Road and Maclure Road.
Coun Danny Meredith, cabinet member for housing and regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "These proposals will create a real sense of arrival for the many thousands of visitors who travel through this station each and every year.
"It's a major gateway in and out of the borough and these plans will ensure that its appearance reflects that, as well as introducing green features which will boost biodiversity.
"Even more importantly, these improvements are part of a much bigger plan to substantially improve this whole area with new, high-quality homes, including social homes, on brownfield sites and a new public square as part of our wider rail strategy to create new homes and commercial and leisure spaces around our key transport hubs."
Progress on the redevelopment of the area has slowed in recent years due to the council missing out on the government's £20m Levelling Up funding. However the local authority secured planning permission to progress the overarching station gateway scheme in July 2023.
The scheme is key in the borough's wider rail strategy, which seeks to develop brownfield land around Rochdale's five railway stations, with new homes, businesses and improved public realm and transport connections.
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