This is the first exclusive glimpse of the new £10 million bus station to be created in Accrington town centre.

Town hall bosses were this week given the green light to push ahead with the resiting of the station, which is being described as the biggest transformation of Accrington town centre in decades.

The 10-lane bus station will be sited on the former Kwik Save car park, Crawshaw Street, while the current station on Peel Street will be turned into a short-stay car park.

The station will include new ‘state-of-the-art’ buses, bus stops with live information, higher frequency services, bus priority lanes in congested areas and at traffic signals, and a ‘smart card’ ticketing system.

Work on the project is expected to begin in April 2013 with the new bus station opening to passengers in August 2015.

Council Leader Miles Parkinson said it was ‘an early Christmas present’ for the town.

He said: "It is fantastic news as the bus station is long overdue.

"It’s one of the biggest public sector investments in the town for a number of years and will mean a significant change to the centre of Accrington.

"We want to increase footfall into the town centre and a new bus station and better services is all part of that.

"By relocating to a modern, purpose-built setting we will be able to give shoppers a first class bus station and a first class service to get them into the town centre.

"There are great possibilities for Accrington over the next decade."

The bus station plans are part of a revived Pennine Reach scheme which was halted by transport bosses last year, and will see £40 million ploughed into transport infrastructure across the borough.

Under the plans, the town centre could also be opened up to two-way traffic to improve footfall.

However, the scheme also includes controversial bus lanes on Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, which have been opposed by local residents and traders upset at losing dedicated parking bays.

The plans for a new bus station is the first major project to be given funding in Accrington town centre.

Council bosses are also hoping to receive a £2.5 million Heritage Lottery grant which would be used to restore period features to the area around Accrington town hall and restore the Victorian arcade to its formers glory.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said the new station will be a ‘big step forward’ for the town.

He said: "It really is fantastic news and will open up the debate about Peel Street and the Town Hall."

Conservative councillor Peter Britcliffe said: "We have been waiting for a new bus station in Accrington for many years and some of us never thought we would see the day."

The council are also hopeful of securing a £2.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund bid in the next few months to spend on improving Blackburn Road and restoring the Victorian Arcade.

Duncan Allton, owner of All Fruits in the Market Hall, said: "The short term parking could be a great thing and if it’s really well thought out then it could work.

"Hopefully it will help improve this part of the town. There is a lot of good redevelopment going on and it’s good that progress is being made."