Trafford steps up asset sales programme

The local authority is seeking to offload further properties and set up joint ventures for others, with details of the 2026-27 disposal programme now revealed.

Trafford Council’s executive will consider a report next week from the executive member for economy & regeneration and corporate director of place, updating on the progress of the 2025-26 programme and requesting approval for the next financial year’s planned disposals.

Trafford’s strategic land review programme covers land and property that the council intends to either sell, develop in partnership or self-develop or transfer ownership, forming part of its estates strategy.

The 2025-26 year saw just over £3.5m brought in through three sales, with Kara House and Merry House in Saler bringing in around £3m. The residual proceeds of these deals was around £200,000.

As of the report’s writing in mid-January, a further five assets are recorded as sold subject to contract.

2026-27 and beyond

Assets are split into two categories. Category one is where the council is already committed to a disposal or where the disposal is on a statutory basis. There are also sites assessed as having no development potential or benefit in developing directly.

It is noted that the most straightforward disposals have already been dealt with, so any sales now could carry more risk of delay over tenancy or planning issues.

Again, some of these are listed as sold subject to contract. These include the former RBS bank in Partington, the Jubilee Centre in Bowdon, and Wharf Road Garages in Altrincham.

At Altrincham Town Hall, a leasehold with arts organisation Oyez Arts is in place at the building, agreed in 2024. According to the report, a premium is payable for the leasehold interest.

The category one list includes 24 assets in total, including Brown Street car park in Hale, the former Moss View primary school in Partington, the former Trafford High School, redundant cemetery chapels, the former Davyhulme Youth Centre and a car park at Empress Street, Old Trafford.

Category 2 includes property assets where following initial assessment, the council sees a “significant advantage” in projects being delivered through either partnership, including joint ventures, or self-development.

Assets listed here include land to the rear of Partington Shopping Centre, and a land assembly project at Lacy Street in Stretford including a former postal sorting office, where the council last year advanced plans for 53 houses, securing consent in December.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “Every year we carry out a review of our assets and those that are deemed to be surplus we then make a decision about whether to keep them. The proceeds go to funding our capital programme and are separate to our revenue budget and cannot be spent on day to day services we provide.

“No current functioning schools or libraries are being sold. The council is not selling Altrincham Town Hall and has no intention of doing so. It signed a long lease with Oyez Arts in 2024 to use the building and the group is doing some fantastic work in the community which we support.”