FEC solidifies ex-Greater Manchester Police HQ revamp role
FEC has officially signed an agreement to deliver 750 homes on the prominent Stretford site – more than a year after news broke that it had been appointed Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s development partner for the project.
With the ink officially dry, the trio can commence the next stage of works – firming up design proposals ahead of submitting a planning application for the former Greater Manchester Police headquarters site.
Initial designs call for the Chester Road plot include approximately 188 affordable homes, a hotel, leisure facilities, office blocks, and shops. Community facilities are also in the works.
Last year, a scale and massing appraisal by Buttress Architects put the plot of land down as suitable for 62,000 sq ft of commercial space – not including 10,000 sq ft for offices.
The GMP HQ site forms part of Trafford Council’s wider 135-acre Civic Quarter Action Plan. This masterplan calls for 4,000 homes to be built and, in addition to those proposed on the GMP site, also includes the 639-homes being built by Glenbrook at Lumina Village.
FEC Manchester managing director Gavin Taylor said it was “incredibly exciting” for the deal to now be formalised, describing the project as “regionally important”.
“We recognise that the former police station site is in a high-profile location and the local community want to see it brought back into use for the good of the people living here,” Taylor said.
“We intend to do just that by leveraging our significant regeneration expertise to deliver a place that creates spaces for people to live, work and come together.”
Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, Cllr Liz Patel, added: “We look forward to progressing this exciting project which will bring forward 750 sustainable new homes which includes significant numbers of much needed affordable housing.”
The GMP HQ site has sat vacant since 2012, when the police relocated to Central Park in Newton Heath.
they were appointed on this because they confirmed they would deliver without any grant / subsidy. Let’s see if that holds…….
By we're watching......
Vacant for 12 years and counting. Shameful
By Anonymous
“Vacant for 12 years and counting. Shameful”
Except it wasn’t. It was used up to the end of 2023. That statement in the article is misleading.
By Anonymous