Sportfive joins Lane7 in the redeveloped department store. Credit: via Citypress

Bruntwood to bring Pioneer project to Altrincham

Trafford Council is teaming up with the developer to turn the Rackhams Building into a retail, leisure and workspace hub. The building was previously a House of Fraser department store.

A public consultation has been launched for the scheme. If plans go through, this will mark the first time Bruntwood Works has had a Pioneer building in the Manchester suburbs.

The project is the first phase of the Stamford Quarter regeneration development, which aims to improve the public realm and make the area a mixed-use destination.

Under the proposed plans, Bruntwood Works will create 37,500 sq ft of commercial workspace in the building. An additional 15,000 sq ft, spread out between the ground and lower ground floors, would be reserved for retail and hospitality groups.

The company aims to grow a 3,660 sq ft living wall in the space. Promoting active travel, plans also call for cycle storage and showers for those who commute in for work. A two-storey extension and first-floor outdoor spaces also figure into the proposals.

If the scheme receives planning permission, Bruntwood Works said it would begin work on the site this autumn.

Rackhams Building In Altrincham 2, Bruntwood Works, P Citypress

Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works formed a joint venture for the Rackhams project. Credit: via Citypress

“As a hugely successful destination in its own right, Altrincham already has all the ingredients for an even brighter future,” said Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works. “We want to harness this by creating a blend of retail and leisure with premium workspaces that deliver greater opportunities for the community to come together in one central hub.

“The pandemic changed the way we interact with our high street, boosting local town centres and creating exciting opportunities to redevelop former department stores for new uses,” she continued.

“We’re confident the transformation of the former Rackhams store will be a gamechanger for the town and prove an attractive proposition for those looking for workspace outside of the city centre, whilst providing a new and much-needed amenity that complements the existing operators within Stamford Square.”

Bruntwood Works’ £50m Pioneer project aims to build the offices of the future by focusing on art, sustainability, wellness, amenity offers, technology and biophilia. Other Pioneer buildings include The Plaza in Liverpool and Bloc in Manchester.

Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council will be hosting a drop-in session from noon to 4pm on 18 August at the Not So Secret Garden at Stamford Square to discuss the proposals.

Your Comments

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Amazing that no proposals have been made for a canopy over the whole of the shopping area, When winter arrives only a small amount of resident’s will shop in Altringham. They all go to the Trafford Centre for free parking and shopping out of the rain. Manchester’s the wettest city in the UK… Time to wake up planners if you want Altrincham to blossom.

By Rob mills

Ir rains more in Leeds, Glasgow, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan and Naples, than in Manchester. Rainy Manchester was a fake newspaper report (not much changes) in the 1930s based on a weather station reading from Winter Hill. It is less wet in Manchester than many cities in the UK. It rains more in Luxemburg than it does in Lancashire. So there!

By James Yates.

Have you been to Altrincham in the last 5 or 6 years Rob? It’s heaving in the town centre week in week out, irrespective of the weather.

By Red Rose

Rob ,what a strange comment it seems unlikely you’ve ever been near Altrincham if that’s what you believe. You should try though, next time you’re anywhere near call in, it’s a pretty vibrant place

By Anonymous

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