Consultant sought for 215-acre Trafford Wharfside
Trafford Council is offering a £100,000 contract to a consultancy to draw up a development framework for a huge chunk of land connecting the Manchester Ship Canal and Trafford Civic Quarter.
A notice for the Trafford Wharfside job states that the appointed consultancy would “set the vision” for the 215-acre zone and consider how the area should “operate as a place”.
The development framework
Trafford Council has been planning to draw up a development framework for the Wharfside area since 2019. The zone stretches east to west from Trafford Road to the Imperial War Museum, and north to south from the ship canal to the railway line, incorporating Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
Manchester Freightliner Terminal is not included in the parameters of the framework.
It is understood plans for the area would accommodate both residential and employment uses as well as:
- Expanding Media City and creating an improved gateway from Salford
- Improved access along the waterfront
- Consolidation of the cultural and leisure offer
- Creation of high-quality public realm and a processional route linking Lancashire County Cricket Club to the waterfront via Manchester United Football Club
- New linkages to future development on nearby sites including Pomona/Cornbrook.
Wharfside pipeline
Several developments to the east of the framework area have already come forward. Cole Waterhouse’s 354-home No1 Old Trafford completed last year, while CTP and Pitalia Real Estate are advancing plans to redevelop the former Hilti site.
In addition, plans to upgrade the O2 Victoria Warehouse were approved in December 2020.
A 27-acre site owned by Harbert on the corner of Europa Way and Wharfside Way also falls within the development zone. This site has the potential for around 2,000 homes, a hotel and employment space.
Peel L&P and TFGM are understood to be among the organisations with land interests at Trafford Wharfside.
The bigger picture
The Wharfside development framework would aim to plug the gap between Media City and Trafford Civic Quarter, both areas of high development activity.
Within the Civic Quarter Area Action Plan are various large scale regeneration projects, including Bruntwood’s Lumina Village and the redevelopment of the former GMP headquarters on Chester Road.
At Media City, 75% shareholder Landsec is plotting up to 850,000 sq ft of offices to build on the success of the district occupied by the likes of BBC and ITV.
