FEC lands large-scale Trafford regen contract
Far East Consortium will work with Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to redevelop the former Greater Manchester Police headquarters in Stretford.
FEC has been appointed as the development partner for the project by the council and GMCA. In securing the contract, FEC beat fellow shortlist competitors Cityheart and Muse.
The site has the potential for 750 homes, a 112-bed hotel, 10,000 sq ft of offices, a food hall, and 62,000 sq ft of commercial space – according to a scale and massing appraisal conducted by Buttress Architects.
GMCA and Trafford have formed a joint venture for the project, which comprises a nine-acre site off Chester Road. The former GMP HQ is part of Trafford Council’s Civic Quarter Action Plan, a masterplan that aims to develop 4,000 homes on land between Old Trafford Football Ground and Trafford Town Hall.
The GMP HQ site is one of the largest in the action plan. The building has been vacant since the police left in 2012, moving to a new £60m home off Oldham Road in Newton Heath.
FEC declined to comment on the news. A spokesperson for Trafford Council and GMCA said: “We are unable to comment on the procurement processes while we are in the standstill period.”
Further north, FEC is well underway on another council-led regeneration scheme, the £4bn Victoria North project with Manchester City Council. The developer lodged plans for 1,550 homes off Dantzic Street earlier this year.
Excellent news!
By Will
Can’t wait for this part of the city to increase in density. FEC are doing great work in Victoria North so I can’t wait to see what they have planned here!
By Anonymous
Good news. This site has been vacant for far too long. I wonder is the old phase 2 comms building shown in the picture vacant too now?
By Anonymous
Huge opportunity here particularly related to the transport connectivity. Close to Trafford Bar but interested to see if an active travel connection could be made over the A56 and railway line towards Throstles Nest Bridge and Pomona?
By Anonymous
Good job the beautiful old Henshaw’s School was knocked down to build this….
By Loganberry
For the love of god, include some balconies here please. MCC might be determined to creating dormitories of quasi-student accommodation but that doesn’t mean all planning authorities have to be so short sighted.
By Balcony watch
This site is in need of regeneration and excited to see FEC take it forward and hope the ambition for the site is realised
By Pablo
The connectivity from Trafford Bar is fantastic. One tram every 1 or 2 minutes into the City Centre, with bus connections to Oxford Road. This site has massive, massive potential.
By Connections
balcony watch… architects would always strive to include balconies and do so at lower levels BUT with taller buildings wind issues stop us from having external balconies – this is a safety issue. Some mitigation can be offered by the balustrade material BUT we are not able to utilise Laminated glass due to changes to Part B following Grenfell as such we would usually revert to flat bar railings – but on taller towers we cannot do this because this does not help mitigate wind safety issues. As you can see its a complex matter not just a case of developers not providing to save cost.
By manc
Trafford Borough councillors,allegedly,have scant regard for Old Trafford and Stretford.Much rather lavish expenditure on Altrincham,Bowden,Hale and surrounding areas.Should they spend time on improving the Borough as opposed to political in-fighting,maybe the Two afore mentioned towns could improve beyond the carcasses they are.
By Anonymous
Balcony watch –
I wonder why Canary Wharf have a lot of high rise with balcony without problem while it cannot happen in Manchester. Was it because Manchester is more windy?
By Martina
Badly needs active travel links across the awful White City Circle though. That roundabout is a huge point of severance between Trafford and Salford.
And while I’m at it, what does White City Way do that Chester Road couldn’t? Shouldn’t the council look at this road’s purpose, and make a decision on its future? Do we need it when Chester Road could potentially do the same job?
By Flixton resident