Trafford adds to Stretford holdings with Royal Mail buy
Following a deal for Stretford Mall earlier this year, the council has exchanged contracts to buy the former Royal Mail delivery office on Lacy Street.
The Lacy Street site, opposite a surface car park and backing on to the Bridgewater Canal, is seen by the council as a key component of its wider masterplan for the area.
The council said the purchase was in a “key location” with the option of opening up the site to the Bridgewater Canal when it is redeveloped. The building has been vacant since August 2018 when the Royal Mail relocated its functions to Old Trafford.
Under the masterplan for Stretford, which was approved in January 2018 and is currently being refreshed, the area around the north end of Lacy Street was originally earmarked for a high-density student development, but this was scaled back following strong opposition at consultation.
Instead, options for the delivery office site and the surface car park could include a lower-rise scheme including affordable housing, student flats, and commercial space.
The purchase feeds into a wider strategic move by Trafford Council to buy up vacant or under-used plots around Stretford to bring forward a regeneration of the area.
In September, Place North West revealed the council, working in partnership with Bruntwood, had struck a deal to buy Stretford Mall from M&M Asset Management.
A consultation into the future of the Mall was launched earlier this month. Among the options being put forward are to attract more independent local businesses to the area; improving lifestyle and leisure offerings; and possible residential development, along with offices and commercial.
A spokesman for Trafford Council said: “One of our aims is to create successful and thriving places in the borough, with a particular focus on our town centres and local communities, and this deal allows us to do this.
“The purchase of the former Royal Mail delivery office on Lacy Street is a very important factor in terms of the regeneration of Stretford Town centre and the Lacy Street area. This could give us the opportunity to open up onto the Bridgewater Canal.
“Lacy Street is central to the Council’s vision for an improved and revitalised Stretford. Acquiring Stretford Mall was a massive boost to the area and our residents, with the opportunity for comprehensive redevelopment to also include our Lacy Street site. I know residents have been calling out for more investment in the area and we are listening to them.”
They should buy the old Essoldo and the Edge Line flats to complete a regeneration portfolio
By Steve Lynch
Let’s hope the council deliver a great project here.
By Postman Pat
It’s a fantastic idea but perhaps I’m missing something? Given the shortfall in services provided by the Council due to ‘budgetary constraints’ which the Labour controllers blame upon the previous Tory administration shouldn’t they be using their money to improve their services for the time being? #justsaying
By Dover
Altrincham first the rest as a after though
By Art
How much has this cost,out of the tax payers pockets,
By Derek
I live in Stretford! Am I missing something? Where exactly is Stretford town centre?
~ Inside the mall?
~ Robin hood pub?
~ mcdonalds?
Where is it? I don’t see a town centre like Urmston’s, or chorlton’s. So I’d appreciate the information.
I’ve lived here 20 years and never known a Stretford town centre.
By Tracey
Maybe a few street cleaners wouldn’t go amiss
By Anon
The problem with the Essoldo is it’s a Grade 2 listed building. The costs to regenerate and develop it will be massive. This includes the Edge Lane properties too.
By Ruth Buckley
@Dover What you’re missing is the difference between capital and revenue funding. This acquisition will have been funded using capital either borrowed – in which case it will need to be repaid – or from the reserve. The provision of services is funded by revenue budgets which have been decimated over the last 9 years by the Conservatives.
By Matt
Ruth – Grade II Essoldo building shouldn’t be a problem.
Just let it fall into deterioration then demolish it with council consent – just like Bolton council have granted the owners of the former Brierfield pub, Blackburn Road.
By ChesneyT
we are absolutely desperate for some shops,we have only aldi for a supermarket.
By Diana
Please lower the rates for the shops in the Mall. Far too many shops have disappeared over the last few years . It will soon be deemed uneconomic for the Mall to continue unless we can encourage more businesses and shoppers to come back to Stretford soon.
By Jean
Hate to repeat this ad nauseam, but they could open a shop there offering free £5 notes and you still have to contend with crossing Chester Road to get to it.
If you’re reading this Trafford Council, you are NEVER going to bring Stretford together with the great divide of Chester Road as it is no matter how you regenerate the area.
By SBT