A free park and ride facility could be up and running at Walkden Railway Station within the next year.
Detailed plans to demolish buildings at a former council depot in Chestnut Avenue to make way for a new car park with 107 spaces have been revealed.
The unmanned facility would be free to use and open to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists 24-hours-a-day – but it will only be lit up 30 minutes before the first train and 30 minutes after the last train of each day, the proposal says.
A new cycle shelter on site would accommodate approximately 30 bicycles.
There would be also be four motorcycle parking bays, two electric vehicle charging points and eight spaces designated for blue badge holders, if the planning application by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is approved.
A spokesman said: "The Walkden Park and Ride scheme will be delivered by Salford City Council and TfGM as part of a set of wider highway improvements.
"Walkden Station is well used but currently does not have dedicated parking provision attached to the station.
"As a result, streets around the station have had problems with on-street parking impacting upon access for local residents and through traffic.
"Subject to receiving planning permission and obtaining the final funding approvals through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the works are anticipated to start in early 2021 and be complete in spring 2021."
Work to secure funding for the scheme has been ongoing since 2016 when the proposal was first signed off by the city’s mayor Paul Dennett.
The Greater Manchester Local Growth Deal Salford Bolton Network Improvements Programme is now set to fund the scheme.
The planning application process is expected to conclude in October 2020 and, if approved, work is expected to start in early 2021 and finished by spring.
Construction is likely to last between eight and 10 weeks, according to the application, but this can only be confirmed once a contractor is appointed.
Walkden South councillor Joshua Brooks said he is delighted about the news.
He said: "This is great news for the local residents and the wider community, both practically and economically going forward into the next decade."
The news comes after research revealed that 60 per cent of homes in Walkden are selling above the asking price with a rise in interested buyers seeking properties in the Salford suburb of 189 per cent in the year up to July.
Walkden estate agent Linzi Farrell, who works for Keavney Estate said one of the main attractions of Walkden is the "excellent" transport connections, with the Leigh Guided Busway recently added to the existing rail and road links.
The latest figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that more than 283,000 people used Walkden Railway Station in 2017/18.
