The Metrolink is coming to Ashton – and it could see the town centre get a radical makeover.

The final green light for the tram has now been given by the Department of Transport after plans were rubber stamped last summer. As a result, the council is hoping to make Ashton one of the best places to shop in Greater Manchester.

Work to bring the tram to Ashton will start later this year and eventually a new transport hub for trains, tram and bus will be built in the centre of Ashton.

It is now hoped that the council car parks off Henrietta Street and Wellington Street will be redeveloped to create more shops and parking close to the heart of the town and within easy reach of public transport.

"This really is an exciting opportunity for Tameside and Ashton," said Cllr Kieran Quinn, the council’s cabinet deputy for economic services.

"We’re hoping it will bring some high end retailers into Ashton which will benefit Tameside."

Cllr Quinn said that work on the new Ashton northern bypass will take through traffic away from the congested heart of the town, meaning vehicle access to Wellington Road might no longer be needed and some of the existing parking spaces will be lost. He added that Wellington Road might be pedestrianised.

Work is already underway to bring Metrolink from Manchester city centre to Droylsden, but now trams will travel on to Ashton town centre, via Audenshaw, Ashton Moss and Ashton West thanks to a £120.9m government grant to fund this extension and one in south Manchester.

Trams will run along the road until Audenshaw, from where they will switch to their own track.

At Ashton Moss and Ashton West more than 600 park and ride spaces will be available over the two sites. The first trams should be up and running by late 2013.

Council leader Roy Oldham said: "This is great news for Ashton and Tameside.

"The provision of the trams into Ashton centre alongside the bus station and rail station provide a transport hub of significance. This allows us, with the Northern bypass, to plan a complete new layout of retail, car parking and other facilities in Ashton."

The Conservatives have welcomed the tram extension, but expressed their frustration that it had been delayed for so long.

"We've always been pro-Metrolink," said Stalybridge and Hyde parliamentary candidate, Rob Adlard.

"We’re thrilled that it’s finally going ahead but we’re annoyed that it’s taken so long.

"We campaigned against the congestion charge becauase we didn’t think it was the right thing to do, not because we were against the things included in the package, like Metrolink."