Plans submitted for Altrincham Regent Road overhaul
Developer Citybranch and architect Project3 have submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Regent Road car park in Altrincham, which will include 70 apartments, shops, and a public square.
The project team initially outlined the proposals at a public consultation in late November, and has now submitted an application to Trafford Council for consideration.
The site, which is currently home to the 147-space Regent Road car park, and a block of public toilets, will be comprehensively redeveloped as part of the plans.
The proposals include 70 apartments across two five-storey blocks, with a mix of eight studio apartments, 38 one-bedroom, and 24 two-bedroom flats.
There will also be 9,500 sq ft of retail, café, restaurant or commercial space on the ground floor of both blocks, fronting Regent Road, New Street, and a new public square.
Alongside the apartments and commercial space, the development includes a five-storey car park with space for 300 cars, which will be operated by Trafford Council with vehicular access via New Street.
The existing public toilets on the site will be demolished, but neighbouring buildings, including Thai restaurant Phanthong, will be retained.
The public square and improvements to the site’s Regent Road frontage have been designed to increase permeability with the surrounding town centre, and according to planning documents, “the overall quality” of the square will be similar to Goose Green, another of the town’s public squares.
The proposals also include improvements to Railway Street to increase access to the new development and to Altrincham Hospital.
Alongside Project3, the professional team also includes How as planner and Planit IE as landscape architect. According to Citybranch, the proposals were broadly welcomed by local residents, with three-quarters of consultation responses backing the overall design and concept of the redevelopment.
However, the developer noted the proposals “generated comparatively low interest” with only one local resident from the neighbouring Trafford Housing Trust apartments visiting the consultation.
Most of the residents who visited the consultation were from nearby properties on New Street, who welcomed the proposals but raised concerns about additional traffic the development could create.
Citybranch was chosen as developer via a competitive tender in February 2017. The developer is currently redeveloping the former site of Altrincham Hospital next to the town’s market, with Bowmer & Kirkland on site to build a health and wellbeing centre, as well as a library and public realm improvements.
The developer also previously delivered a new hospital on Stamford New Road, which was built by Pochin’s.
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