Wain Homes eyes Backford Cross go-ahead

A mixture of 63 apartments and houses, including two bungalows, is proposed on a 4.5-acre site off Evelyn Avenue east of the town centre.

A 15,000 sq ft fan zone in the shadow of the West Stand for the consumption of food and drink before and after the club’s home fixtures could be erected on part of Old Trafford’s car park. 

Outline plans have been lodged for an industrial unit of up to 160,000 sq ft off Bryn Lane on Wrexham Industrial Estate, a plot vacant since 2005.

Ten acres of grazing land off Jenny Lane in Stockport could be redeveloped into 75 homes under outline plans put to the local council.

Working for Cumberland Council, the contractor has started on a pair of buildings amounting to 64,000 s ft at Leconfield Industrial Estate in Cleator Moor.

The likes of Bev Craig, Steve Rotheram, Tracy Brabin, and Richard Parker will get the final say on large developments under plans from the Prime Minister, and former Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.

Paul Buntin has been promoted to interim director of regeneration and housing at the combined authority after four years as head of development.

Housing is at the front of the agenda with secretary of state Angela Rayner persisting with the government’s 1.5m homes agenda and  Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledging to deliver the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period. But how is the housing market, really?

Demolition contractor AJ Kelly & Co has been appointed to clear a site between the town’s rail and bus stations that has planning permission to be transformed into 102 homes.

The council will appoint a pair of firms for the renovation of Trafalgar House, and will tee up the sale of Pendle Innovation Centre pending executive sign-off next week.

Ashall Projects has applied for planning permission to upgrade the 41-room Duke Street asset following a period of vacancy.

Scary sites, reservoir running, and champion chimneys.

Working on behalf of landlord Priory Manchester, OBI has wrapped its work refreshing the grade one-listed Manchester building.

United Utilities will be replacing its anaerobic digestion facility at the plant with one capable of breaking down waste bacteria faster and more comprehensively – provided it can secure planning permission from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Fabio Borini, who played for Liverpool and AC Milan during his career, is spearheading plans for a seven-court venue off Baird Street.

The housebuilder is pressing ahead with proposals for 191 market homes, 233 affordable properties, and a 110-unit extra care scheme after Grammont Group secured outline approval for the plot in Bromborough last year.

Councillors were unable, for a fifth time, to appoint a Leader during Thursday’s meeting. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has commenced an oversight process that could end with commissioners being brought in to run the politically volatile local authority.

Footfall was up 8% and net rental income increased by £4m during 2025 as the 2.2m sq ft retail complex defied geo-political uncertainty.

ACLO, the property company owned by Hyrum Cook – the founder of the Manchester ath-leisure brand Adanola – and his brother Barney have been given consent to rid Marlsbro House of its distinctive chequerboard cladding and refurbish the listed building into a mixed-use scheme featuring a private members bar.