More than £2m of funding has been released to improve the Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton bus services, it has been announced.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has shared that members of the Bee Network Committee have approved the release of more than £20m to progress with key transport infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester.

The latest release of funds, including £10m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), will go towards a range of projects, including the bus corridor running between Rochdale and Ashton through Oldham.

A long-term project to improve the reliability of the bus services between running between the three towns is already underway, along with bettering connections to and from bus stops and the environment along key routes.

Funding for the project, known as 'Improving journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton', is being released in phases, and the Bee Network Committee has now released £2.1m of CRSTS funding to develop the Rochdale element of the scheme to Full Business Case.

The Bee Network was rolled out in Oldham earlier this yearThe Bee Network was rolled out in Oldham earlier this year (Image: TfGM)

Construction of the main scheme in Rochdale is expected to begin in autumn 2025, subject to further approvals.

According to TfGM, the route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton is currently the busiest on the franchised network.

Another project to receive funding is a Streets For All scheme in nearby Middleton, which will look to ensure high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling connections in the town.

The scheme, which is still subject to further approvals, is looking to regenerate the area around the Market Place, creating new housing and establishing a new cultural quarter.

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A key part of the scheme will involve reconfiguring the Market Place roundabout to include a new public space, better segregated cycling provision around the roundabout and improvements to the underpass to provide enough space for shared use between pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists.

The Bee Network Committee approved £700,000 to progress the scheme to a final business case and progress with handing out a contract.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are moving at pace to bring about improvements that will make a real difference to how people get around Greater Manchester using public transport or when walking, wheeling or cycling.

“Over the next few years more than £1bn will be invested to improve peoples’ journeys, and the scale of ambition is reflected in the drawdown of these funds, that support continued delivery of the Bee Network.

“We are taking forward an exciting range of schemes that will be truly transformational to people right across the city-region.”