Pendle

Colne town centre bus priority and highway improvements

Location: Colne town centre including Church Street, Market Street, Craddock Road, Windy Bank and the Bus Station.

Proposals:

Improvements to the highway network in Colne town centre to enhance public transport access and improve traffic flow.

There are two phases to the scheme.

Phase 1: Upgrade of Colne Bus Station

This would include increasing the number of bays from 3 to 5, installing new shelters with real time passenger information and improving pedestrian access.  These changes would allow the bus station to serve all bus routes, centralising services that currently operate from separate stops on Market Street

Phase 2: Highway improvements

To support the bus station proposals, Craddock Road would be converted to two way traffic, enabling buses to access the station from all directions.  This change is a key element of the wider plan to improve connectivity and reduce journey times.

To facilitate this change, new traffic signals with intelligent bus priority would be installed at the eastern end of the town at the junction of Market Street, Skipton Road, Keighley Road and Craddock Road.

At the western end of the town, a small clockwise gyratory would be maintained, to assist traffic flows, using Church Street, Colne Lane, Craddock Road and Walton Street.

Windy Bank would have a 7.5 tonne weight limit from Norfolk Street to Church Street to prevent larger, unsuitable vehicles from using the road.  Windy Bank would still be open to other traffic.

Other proposed elements of the scheme include improved pedestrian access to the bus station by closing off traffic to Parliament Street from Market Street.  Access to the car park would be maintained from the two-way Craddock Road.  Additionally, to assist blind and partially sighted pedestrians a new traffic signal-controlled crossing would be installed near the market.

Progress:

Initial stakeholder engagement with the local community took place in late 2023 followed by wider engagement in early 2024. 

Constructive feedback was received, leading to adaptions to the proposals that focus on maintaining traffic movements within Colne town centre, improving bus priority and making better use of the bus station for the coordination of services

Formal consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) is being carried out between and 17 October and 14 November 2025.  The proposed TROs are available to view at proposed traffic regulation orders .

Any representations or objections relating to the proposals can be made in writing by 14 November 2025 via

Following the consultation and subject to Cabinet approval, Phase 1 of the proposals would be planned for delivery in early 2026 with Phase 2 to follow on after. 

Find out more:

The proposed scheme is detailed on the concept plans above.

Representations and comments about the Traffic Regulation Orders must be made via the methods outlined above to be considered in the formal consultation, however if you would like to offer more general feedback about our Bus Service Improvement Plan please email BSIP@lancashire.gov.uk. Any responses or feedback will be assessed and incorporated into the proposals where appropriate.