Stretford regeneration under the spotlight
Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council are seeking feedback from stakeholders on plans to revamp the town centre, including the creation of a new retail core on King Street.
A planning application for the King Street scheme is due in the coming weeks.
The project aims to reinstate the historic street, hidden beneath Stretford Mall, as a lively retail and leisure boulevard, and to establish a new market hall, with independent market retail traders, as well as places to eat and drink.
The proposals also include plans to modernise the multi-storey car park off Kingsway.
As well as the King Street plan, Bruntwood Works and the council are seeking feedback on the wider 27-acre masterplan for Stretford.
Highlights of the Future Stretford scheme include:
- The creation of a canalside neighbourhood by regenerating the old Lacy Street car park and the former Royal Mail Sorting Office site
- The renovation of Arndale House to provide modern workspace
- Enhancing existing public open spaces, and the creation of large new open spaces and green areas
- Up to 800 residential units around Stretford Mall and St Matthew’s Church, to include affordable homes
- Transforming Stretford Mall and the surrounding area into a sustainable retail and leisure centre.
Planting trees in a new 'central park' for tomorrow's #greeningstretford consultation at @StretfordMall including the 1st phase rejuvenation of historic King Street.
Looking forward to it#places #people@880Cities#healthandwellbeing #sustainablefuture#futurehighstreets pic.twitter.com/YN4Iso8Eg9— Ernst (@Ernshki) September 10, 2021
An outline planning application for the regeneration of Stretford has been lodged with Trafford Council but is yet to be validated.
The consultation event will take place at Stretford Mall on Saturday 11 September between 8am and 6pm.
Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works, said: “We really want to invite local residents and the wider community to share their thoughts and input into the future of the King Street area, which will be the new retail heart of Stretford, as well as the wider masterplan for the town centre.
“The ongoing conversations behind this plan will ensure the composition, look and feel of this town centre works for current and future residents, as well as its visitors.”
Architecture firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios is the lead designer of the masterplan, supported by Exterior Architecture on landscape design. The planning and environmental impact assessment was undertaken by Avison Young and Civic Engineers was the transport consultant.
- King Street will be re-established as part of the first phase of work. Credit: via Citypress
- Bruntwood Works' concepts for Stretford will be among the talking points. Credit: via Citypress
Somewhat unrelated to the story in question but I was wondering if anyone knows if there are similar plans to those outlined in the story to take place in Eccles? I’m relatively new to the area and we have all the potential to have a thriving town centre similar to that of Altrincham/Didsbury/Stretford (above). Would be great to hear of any development plans in the works!
By Bobby P
I look forward to seeing W L Smith and Doots come to Stretford. Much needed high street brands here 🙂
By Disgruntled Goat
Am I getting this right?…is Trafford Council both co-developer & planning authority for forthcoming Stratford Mall redevelopment? Something about this arrangement makes me uncomfortable. Honourable as all parties in this may be, I am old enough to recall T Dan Smith. Whilst I much admire Bruntwood & especially the legacy of the late Mike Oglesby, it feels naive bordering on negligent to nod through arrangements whereby the moderating authority is also the applicant in the proposal. This arrangement is not unique to the Stretford scheme. All property development in the private sector is a punt. When the commercial & retail climate is so turbulent, it seems to me imprudent to allow local authorities to be both exchequer & legislature in matters of speculative retail & commercial development.
By Phil Griffin
Look forward to see nice places for food and drink need some place for children’s outdoor activities as well.
By Aima shahbaz
Phil Griffin – I’m not sure what you’re suggesting. Trafford Council will always be the planning authority. So are you saying the Council should not engage in property development in its own area? And presumably that all councils everywhere should take the same approach? This seems excessively restrictive. I’m not commenting on the pros and cons of the scheme here, but as a general approach LAs must surely be allowed to apply for development even if they are also the LPA. The merits or otherwise of the financial element are not a material planning consideration, so would not form part of the decision-making.
By OldTom
Old Tom – I don’t disagree, & I strongly support local authority involvement in development strategies, especially in relation to fading assets such as tired shopping precincts. My concern is that when finance & the suitability of design proposals are on the same side of the table, it might be that design quality is compromised. Would it not be better if the Planning Authority was in a position to say “that is not good enough”, to any proposal, without prejudice from its own executive, if that executive is also the co-developer. All I’m saying is that the LPA might operate with greater effect if it is independent of executive authority.
By Phil Griffin