Trafford outlines major Longford Park revamp

A new BMX course, volunteer hub, and the opening of Longford Brook are just a few aspects of the council’s multi-million-pound plans for the 54-acre Stretford park.

Longford Park is the largest park within the borough, with Kings Road, Great Stone Road, Ryebank Road, Cromwell Road, and Edge Lane as its borders. Previously home to the 1836 Longford House mansion – itself the former home of philanthropist John Rylands – Longford Park was acquired by Stretford Council in 1911 and turned into a public park.

Trafford Council has been working alongside consultant The Environment Partnership to improve the park’s offerings.

Several sports and recreational facility upgrades are included, such as improvements to the adult football pitch, senior recreational cricket pitch, and the park’s tennis and basketball courts.

Longford Brook would be reintroduced to the park as an open watercourse. This would help with drainage issues at the disc golf course by acting as a sustainable urban drainage system. The resulting wet meadow would also improve biodiversity within the park.

Under the proposals, Pets Corner would be redesigned to have covered and open-air animal enclosures for its array of animals including goats, guinea pigs, ducks, and chickens.

Trafford Council also seeks to reinterpret the site of the old Longford Hall, which was demolished in the 1990s. This area would be redesigned to hold an outdoor events space and its formal gardens would be improved.

Ryebank Road car park would be reconfigured and improved to maximise capacity.

Buttress Architects designed the proposed Long Barn volunteer and community hub. Under these designs, the old barn building would be reimagined to include a community activity space, lockers, toilets, an office, an interpretation wall, and a disc golf store.

Other proposals in Trafford Council’s plans for Longford Park include new footpaths, seating, and lighting at the park.

In addition to The Environment Partnership and Buttress, Trafford Council worked with The Friends of Longford Park, City of Trees, and One Trafford Partnership to bring about the project.

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, described why park improvements were a priority for the council.

“Parks provide welcome green spaces in our neighbourhoods, helping to keep people healthy and active and providing a space for nature,” she said.

She went on to say she was “delighted” that a planning application had been submitted.

“These plans will transform Longford Park and make it an even more incredible space for thousands of local residents and visitors now and in the future,” she said.

For a full list of planned improvements, explore the planning application on Trafford Council’s planning portal. The reference number is 110093/FUL/23.