Imminent start for Timperley Library

Trafford Housing Trust and Citybranch are set to get the redevelopment of Timperley Library under way with Whitfield & Brown on board as main contractor.

Citybranch’s proposals are for the redevelopment of the site bordered by Stockport Road and Baker Street and include a mix of residential and community use.

Place North West reported four contractors – Casey, Cruden, Pochin’s, and Whitfield & Brown – had been shortlisted to build the scheme in October 2017; Whitfield & Brown has now been confirmed as the successful bidder and is due to start on site in the coming months.

Under the plans, a new-build block facing Baker Street features a a GP surgery and a 1,000 sq ft retail unit at ground floor level, along with a library and kitchen at first floor level. The second floor includes four affordable apartments being brought forward by Trafford Housing Trust. On the site’s existing car park, a separate building will house a four-storey apartment block of 25 two-bed and three one-bed apartments. There will also be 117 car parking spaces on site.

Overall, 14 homes on the site will be made available for shared ownership, representing 48% of the total, ahead of the council’s 40% requirement.

Plans for the project were first submitted in 2016 and approved in September of that year. However, the upper floors of the new-build block were changed from office space to affordable units, necessitating the submission of an updated planning application last year.

AFL was drafted in to the project in place of original architect Calderpeel. Civic Engineers is also working on the project.

Applications to discharge planning conditions, including the construction management plan, have been put forward to Trafford Council, and once these are approved, works can get under way.

The project is due to complete in summer 2020.