EFFORTS to build a new multi-storey car park in Bolton town centre have taken a step forward.

Bolton Council is pressing ahead with its plans to develop the former Wayne Walker meat store as the first stage in creating a transformed ‘Trinity Gateway’.

The Wayne Walker site is expected to be the first major development to go ahead since the council announced an ambitious £1 billion project to transform the character of the town centre.

The council bought the land after it after it was advertised for sale last October and also wants to build a new hotel and offices around the busy junction of Trinity Street and Bradshawgate.

On Monday, council leader Cliff Morris formally approved the principle of building the car park and the appointment of NCP — which also operates the Octagon and Topp Way car park — to carry out initial scoping works at the site.

Cllr Morris said: “I expect that within the next six weeks we will see some more progress.

“Plans and scoping are being sorted out now, so I hope that the car park could be partially built before the end of the year.

“As well as that we are talking to someone about other sites in Bradshawgate, on the other side of Wayne Walker’s.

“We have one or two other things in the town centre that we are looking at and there may be some demolition work starting soon. I am desperate to see some work starting in Bank Street in particular.

“The car park will serve the transport interchange and is also near an area where we want to see a number of small houses and apartments built.”

The new car park is seen as a vital provision to support the new £48 million transport interchange that is due to open on September 3, as well as the adjoining train station. Once the council has obtained legal advice, NCP will then be able to initiate scoping works to determine the viability of a multi-storey car park before submitting a planning application.