A NEW multi-storey car park could be built in Bolton town centre, it has been revealed.

Bolton Council has entered into negotiations with Transport for Greater Manchester about possible sites on which to build the new car park.

Town hall chiefs believe the new facility is needed to complement the £48 million transport interchange that is being created on land bounded by Great Moor Street and Newport Street.

The interchange project — being carried out by TfGM in conjunction with Bolton Council — is on track to be finished by the end of the year, so attention has now turned to finding a site on which to build a car park.

The Bolton News understands one particular site near to the interchange is being discussed in a bid to offer people the chance to leave their cars parked while using buses or trains.

Heading up the project for the council is Cllr David Chadwick, who has responsibility for both transport and special projects such as this.

He said: “We are now looking at creating a new multi-storey car park to serve our new transport interchange.

“The council is currently in negotiations with Transport for Greater Manchester about a potential site and we hope to offer as many parking spaces for people as possible.

“We want to create a situation where people don’t drive to Manchester — but choose to use public transport from the new interchange.”

He added: “I know the train services we have are not ideal at times and can be quite cramped but I think it is more preferable than driving into the city and having to park there.”

Cllr Chadwick said the creation of a multi-storey car park is part of the council’s overall plan for that part of town — which includes the new interchange and the redevelopment of Newport Street.

He added: “We must remember that we are very lucky to have this £48 million interchange being delivered for us by TfGM.”

There are already three multi-storey car parks in and around the town centre in Topp Way, Deane Road and at the Octagon — which are all operated by NCP.

The Bow Street multi-storey car park — also run by NCP — closed in 2014.

Proposals are now under way to turn that building into an Afflecks Palace-style town centre shopping complex called The Link.

It is hoped that the top floors of the building will be turned into a new apartment-hotel complex — with plans to create more than 60 studio apartments.

One floor of the building will be used for leisure activities with preliminary ideas including a children’s play area as well as potential paint-ball or laser tag facilities.

The development could be partly powered by a planned solar farm which may be built on the roof of the centre and there will also be free parking for 180 cars.

The masterminds behind the plans are Bolton business owners Geeta and Subhash Kotecha — who run the Spice Valley Indian restaurants in Horwich and at Noble House.

They are joined in the latest venture by business partner Farhad Azimy, who owns and develops properties in the Bolton area.