Trafford earmarks trio of projects for up to £46m of govt cash 

Partington and Sale could benefit from a share of Whitehall’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, under bids being prepared by the local authority. 

Trafford Council is seeking up to £46m to improve Sale and Partington town centres, as well as upgrading the borough’s cultural offer. 

Bid one – Regenerating Partington – £13.5m – £16m 

The project aims to create “a broad health and wellbeing offer that connects with the local community and provides a coherent collection of services that reflect the needs of local residents while complementing existing assets”, a report to Trafford Council’s executive states. 

Elements that could feature within the scheme include: 

• The refurbishment of Partington Sports Village, including resurfacing the 3G football pitch, delivering an additional pitch, and creating a health and wellbeing hub. 
• The refurbishment of Cross Lane changing rooms. 
• Upgrades to Moss Lane Centre to “make it fit for purpose…and expand its operation to include services that would help local young people into sustainable employment”. It would also aid in Moss Lane becoming a Duke of Edinburgh Award centre. 

Bid two – Connecting Culture – £10m 

The focus of this bid is to link Trafford’s cultural, arts, heritage and green networks “from Dunham Massey to Trafford Park”. 

If successful, the cash from the bid will be used to enhance and develop the cultural offer of the borough to benefit local residents, attract visitors, and promote active travel, according to the council. 

Projects earmarked to benefit from the Levelling Up Fund bid include: 

• The restoration of the listed Watling Gate within Newton Park, which will become a dedicated space for local studies providing archive, research, exhibition and community space. OMI Architects is leading on design.
• Improvements to the public areas around the Waterside Arts Centre and Sale Library to create an improved cultural hub in Sale.  
• The creation of a Trafford Heritage Trail, which will connect the borough’s parks and cemeteries. 

Bid three – Transforming Sale town centre – £17.5m – £20m 

Trafford Council is planning comprehensive public realm improvements in Sale town centre, guided by a masterplan drawn up by Planit-IE and Civic Engineers. 

It is hoped that improvements to the following areas could help to link up developments in the town including Stanley Square, Sale Leisure Centre and Sale Magistrates Court.

Areas in line for a facelift include: 

• School Road 
• Town Hall Junction  
• Northenden Road  
• Waterside Plaza  
• Sibson Road  
• Springfield Road  
• Ashfield Road  
• Hayfield/Hereford Street