The tracks through the site were opened in 1992; however, the tram stop did not open until 31 March 2003. The bus part of the interchange opened on 29 January 2006.[1] Construction had initially started on the bus station in 1998 and it was planned to have been completed and fully operational by 2000, but several disputes over the ownership of the site along with two public inquiries over the course of five years resulted in the construction work on the station being halted until 2003.[2]
The bus station, designed by Jefferson Sheard Architects, replaced the former Cannon Street bus station, under the Manchester Arndale; since the redevelopment of Manchester city centre, the latter has disappeared along with Cannon Street itself.[4] The Bus station is now under the control of TfGM through the Bee Network (as of 2024).