Royal Works wins consent in Trafford turnaround
Despite being recommended for refusal, plans to build 47 homes at the Royal Works site in Stretford were approved at last week’s Trafford planning and development committee.
Developer RCW Stretford’s proposal is for the Royal Works off Edge Lane, a narrow 1.7-acre strip of land between the Metrolink line and the Bridgewater Canal on the opposite bank to the Royal Mail sorting office. Five storeys at its highest point, the project is 40 apartments in two blocks, three townhouses and four semi-detached houses. Elevate Architects has designed the scheme.
The site is historically industrial but now lies empty and the proposal was supported on heritage, drainage and design grounds. However, the lack of affordable housing provision led officers to recommend refusal, an offer of a £60,000 payment being described as failing to meet the identified demand.
It has now been agreed that, by way of a Section 106 agreement, RCW will make five apartments, likely to be three two-bedroom and two one-bedroom flats, affordable, with the proposal that they be managed by Trafford Housing Trust.
With negotiations continuing right up to the meeting, though, Savills and RCW were able to secure consent on a project that will start on site in January.
Rob Haslam, director at Savills, told Place North West: “By working closely with council officers, we’ve managed to agree a mutually acceptable package. The proposal in general was welcomed warmly at committee, and I think there’s a recognition that this is a local firm that are really keen to invest in Trafford, which is what they want to see.
“Trafford has invested in public realm in the area and Royal Works is a key part of the Stretford masterplan as it moves forward.”
According to Companies House, RCW is headed up by Mulbury director Martin Bury and Cert Property Management director Howard Lord. Christian Bury, who managed collapsed contractor Harbur Construction, was formerly a director at RCW but resigned in September this year.
bars at the bottom would be great ,anywhere else this would have been done ,what a wasted opportunity ,sad=(
By concerned resident
Councillors were told pre-application that the homes would be for local people. In fact they were all sold off-market to buy-to-let investors by a London based marketing company. The affordable housing had to be dragged out of the developers. Doesn’t put the developers in a particularly good light. And are they local? Thought they were based in Bury? Happy to be put right.
By John westbrook