The centralisation of bus facilities at Cheapside/West Street is a key element of Oldham Council’s evolving town centre strategy, and provides an important opportunity to further enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre. It serves to promote the increased use of public transport at a time when there is increasing concern about sustainable and environmentally damaging growth in car use.

The building integrates all the bus services in the town and represents the first of a new “21st Century” style of bus station in Greater Manchester.

The station provides a user friendly environment, with a high degree of shelter and comfort for passengers, taking into account personal safety, security and accessibility.

Further to designing the new Central Bus Station at Oldham Cheapside, Austin-Smith:Lord were commissioned to undertake design and contract administration services on the redevelopment of the adjacent passenger waiting environment at Oldham West Street.

The aim for the redevelopment of West Street is the siting and construction of a centralised waiting environment which affords bus users modern and extensive facilities including an attractive and user friendly waiting area; a high degree of shelter and comfort for passengers; personal safety, security and accessibility; and an overall environment that promotes a greater use of public transport.

The design responds to a number of challenges which includes a sloping site, adjacent city centre shopping centre and Manchester Chambers (listed). The intended area is split into two levels to minimise gradients , and fully glazed elevations are used to improve legibility and safety.