Trafford plans Grafton Centre resi
While the authority continues to ponder what to do with the Altrincham retail complex in the longer term, proposals to convert some vacant space into homes have emerged.
Trafford Council, which bought the Grafton Centre for almost £11m in 2018, wants to redevelop former office space within the complex into a mix of 10 houses and apartments.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said the authority is “committed to revitalising Altrincham town centre” and that the Grafton Centre forms part of that strategy.
“As set out in the executive report in June, residential development is one avenue Trafford Council is exploring for this location.
“We will await the consideration and determination of the current application before taking any further steps on the project.”
Planning consultant Enabl is advising the council on its proposals. To learn more, search for planning reference 111497/PMA/23 on Trafford Council’s planning portal.
While the residential scheme forms part of the council’s plan to breathe new life into the Grafton Centre, the wider vision for the complex has failed to gather pace since the 2018 acquisition.
Trafford Council was close to appointing a joint venture between Bruntwood and Novo Property Group to revamp the 80,000 sq ft Grafton Centre but pulled the plug on the plan when Covid hit.
The authority is now planning a “partial redevelopment” in 2025/26.
The June report to Trafford Council’s executive stated that “a comprehensive redevelopment around the existing tenants would be a substantial, complex and expensive process”.
By commissioning a future feasibility study for the partial redevelopment of the Grafton Centre in 2025/26, the council hopes to “further understand the emerging town centre trends, and the broader economic recovery post-pandemic”, the report states.
Over the last three financial years, the complex has made losses of £26,000, £234,000, and £122,000.
The council projects an £8,000 loss for 2022/23 before a return to profit in 2023/24.
The Grafton Centr includes a 91-bedroom hotel run by operator Travelodge. Travelodge’s lease on the building runs until 2037.
In 2019, the council acquired another of the borough’s retail assets, Stretford Mall, which it is redeveloping in a joint venture with Bruntwood.
The whole thing is a mess, even the Travelodge is a particularly run down Travelodge even though Altrincham is poorly served for hotels
By Cal
If Trafford Council planning department have anything to do with it I’ll be dead before anything gets (if even) approved.
By js1000
Demolish everything and build a park.
By John
Would it not be better long term to keep some retail and create social housing instead of unaffordable apartments
By steve woods
Look at the application….this is a shocker. Appalling quality, low grade accommodation that should not be allowed
By anonymous
Temporary or not this is not what housing should be … ever !
By Colin Demout
I’m all for retrofitting but Grafton House is the kind of failed urbanism that would be better if it’s cleared away.
A streets-based mixed used development – and with a good dollop of social housing.
Altrincham have generally done well with urban design in recent years. Now’s not the time to slip up.
By SW
Just knock down everything an build parks, get rid of all the houses and have fields.
By John
Look at the council offices in Sale and adjacent carbuncle that is the multi storey car park for what happens when TBC sanctions its own planning applications
By The blob