Stamford Quarter designs takes shape
Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council have shared plans to overhaul the shopping centre and neighbouring Clarendon House in Altrincham in a consultation on the last part of the town’s regeneration.
The joint venture partners aim to reshape the Stamford Quarter, the last major part of the town’s traditional retail core to be redeveloped, to create 75,000 sq ft of commercial workspace in larger vacant units such as Rackhams, with space for retail and hospitality operators at ground floor level.
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, as masterplan architect, and Planit-IE as landscape architect are working with the joint venture.
The partnership moved to acquire the Stamford Quarter from landlords Apollo Global Management and M&M Asset Management in August 2019. Soon after, it announced a three-project £50m tie-up to redevelop the retail holding, along with the 34,000 sq ft Clarendon House, which used to house Altrincham’s public library, and a further holding, Stretford Mall.
The Stamford Quarter project also includes the improvement of 24,000 sq ft of public realm, including Stamford Square, with enhanced biodiversity, and the introduction of a Stamford Quarter pop-up shop on George Street, to be used as a space for retailers to trial new concepts.
New retail and leisure offerings along Stamford New Road will also act as an anchor to draw people into the Stamford Quarter, the partnership said.
The team is also seeking feedback on plans for town centre living through the redevelopment of Clarendon House and Sunningdale and Kingfisher House.
At Clarendon House, a former office and library building of around 33,000 sq t, in a prominent position opposite the transport interchange, there is the opportunity to provide a range of residential units, while Sunningdale House is billed as presenting an opportunity to build modular homes “that would create a highly sustainable rooftop neighbourhood and green space”.
The public space is being trailed as abel to hold community events and live music, and will include new stepped access. This would include seating terraces and integrated planting to improve pedestrian connectivity and better link Stamford Square to Stamford New Road and Altrincham Interchange.
Cllr Andrew Western, leader of Trafford Council, said: “Trafford Council is keen to gather as many views as possible on these plans and wants the local community to take the lead.
“We have made creating successful and thriving places a top priority and the plans for the regeneration of the Stamford Quarter meet our commitments. The exciting mix of retail, residential, leisure and commercial will create a Stamford Quarter to be proud of and one for all generations to enjoy. The plans also meet other Trafford Council priorities of having pride in our areas and being green and connected.”
Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works, added: “Retail will always be at the heart of Stamford Quarter, but as the retail landscape evolves we must look at how we can redevelop the high street to future-proof and bring further vibrancy to the town centre.”
The plans are available to view online. The consultation is scheduled to run until Friday 16 April.
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The town is going from strength to strength.
By Cheshire boy
How many more redevelopments do we need plus why always Bruntwood?
By ART
Really hope they don’t design those inaccessible steps into the final version. Also need to restrict through traffic on Stamford New Road in order to be close to achieving these car-free utopian idylls.
By Active Travel Trev
Bruntwood are often involved in schemes like this because they have the foresight, knowledge and experience. They’re also a local business, so are worthy of support.
Would you prefer more closed shops and town centre desolation?
By Andrew Davies