MIPIM | Novo reveals latest Altrincham project

The developer has outlined proposals for a mixed-use scheme at one of the town’s key gateway sites between George Street and Central Way, featuring apartments, retail, and offices.

Novo has bought the 12,500 sq ft building in the town’s retail core, currently home to Poundland, for an undisclosed price from its private owner. The retailer has around 12 months left on its lease on the three-storey building, which fronts George Street with access also to the rear on Central Way.

Working with architect Project3, Novo is proposing a mixed-use conversion, featuring 18 apartments on the upper floors, along with 5,900 sq ft of retail, and a 3,000 sq ft office space on the upper ground floor, accessed via Central Way.

This could be brought forward as a serviced office, featuring meeting spaces, a reception, kitchens, and shower facilities.

One of the scheme’s key features is creating an additional link between Central Way and George Street with the building accessible from both sides. A planning application is yet to be submitted for the project.

Novo George Street Altrincham 2

A cross-section of the proposed development

The site is opposite The Grafton Centre, the 81,000 sq ft former shopping centre bought by Trafford Council last year; the council is still on the hunt for a development partner for the site, which will form part of a major overhaul of the top end of George Street, much of which has not been redeveloped.

A development partner for the Grafton Centre is due to be chosen later this year; bidders include Bruntwood; Real Estate Developments working with architect Sixtwo; architect AEW with Step Places; Orbit; Capital & Centric; Novo with Project3; Patrick Properties; and a team of Quinta, View Associates, and Recom.

Similar to the top of George Street, Central Way is becoming one of the town centre’s redevelopment hotspots given its proximity to Altrincham Market; the Everyman Cinema opened last year fronting both Central Way and George Street, while some of the market traders have also expanded their presence along the street.

Altrincham, along with Stockport, was discussed at an event at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes, chaired by Chris Oglesby of Bruntwood and featuring Richard Roe of Trafford Council and Ben Fearns of Novo, along with Muse’s Phil Mayall and Caroline Simpson of Stockport Council.

Keeping town centres affordable to live in as restructuring and repurposing of retail space comes forward was one of the key themes, with the panel largely in agreement that permitted development rights office-to-residential conversions were not always the right way forward to encourage town-centre living.


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