Accrue returns with fresh plans for Great Stone Road
Property investor Accrue Capital has submitted a scaled-back proposal for a 330-unit residential scheme at the former B&Q site in Stretford, following the rejection of a 12-storey, 430-apartment block last year.
The refreshed, eight-storey, proposal, which cuts 100 homes from the previous application, comes despite confirmation from Trafford Council in January that it was considering deploying its compulsory purchase powers to take control of the 2.4-acre site, to bring forward the Civic Quarter masterplan.
Under the masterplan, the site could be used to house a leisure centre and car park scheme with a preferred height of four storeys. The masterplan was drawn up for the council and its joint venture partner Bruntwood by architecture studio Feilden Clegg Bradley, landscape architects Planit-IE and consultancy Avison Young.
Accrue submitted plans for the first iteration of the scheme, to be built on the site next to Old Trafford Cricket Ground, in 2018 after buying the store from B&Q owner Kingfisher, the garden and DIY retail group.
Prior to that first submission, the developer had had pre-application discussions with the council on proposals for three tower blocks ranging between 12 and 26 storeys on the site, but planning officers pushed back on these designs.
Earlier plans for a larger development of 430 homes were rejected last March
At the time, Lancashire County Cricket Club, which plays at Old Trafford, objected to the plans saying that the development could put the future of Test cricket matches at the stadium in doubt.
A spokesperson from LCCC said in 2019, prior the council’s refusal of the project: “Not only will [the scheme] be overbearing in relation to the cricket ground, but due to its height, there is also a significant likelihood that it will cast a shadow over the stadium, which in turn could affect play during a game, and put future Test matches at risk.”
The council subsequently rejected the plans at committee.
The architect for the project is O’Connell East Architects and the planning consultant is WSP.
Accrue and Trafford Council have been contacted for comment.
