THIS is how the new and improved park and ride facilities for Radcliffe and Whitefield's Metrolink stations should look.

Blueprints for the twin schemes have been lodged with Bury Council by Transport for Greater Manchester.

An extra 120 parking spaces will be created at Radcliffe, when an extra deck is added, say transport officials.

A planning agent said: "This planning application seeks planning permission for an additional parking deck on the same footprint as the existing to provide an additional 120 spaces.

"In order to create a suitable access to the second-floor deck, several spaces will be lost at first floor level meaning there will be a net total of 478 spaces.

"The additional spaces will help to alleviate concerns from nearby residents regarding increased on street parking."

Six bays for electric vehicles could also be created there.

And at Whitefield, which has had a park and ride since 2004, with 127 spaces dedicated for the Metrolink, with plans to increase this now to 333.

The planning agent added: "Since its opening demand for this park and ride facility has been high with in recent years it being significantly oversubscribed."

An additional deck was created in 2013 but the new scheme, again with a third deck, would also see an existing bus turning head reconfigured, for more spaces, with six potential electric vehicle spaces and four drop-off only bays.

TfGM officials say the park and ride upgrades are part of a wider Metrolink scheme which also includes an upgrade for the stop at Hollinwood, near Oldham.