X1 makes BSA tweaks at Trafford Waters

Overall block heights have been reduced and building footprints slightly expanded, with the total number of apartments remaining the same at the 208-home development.

The mix of apartments has been altered, with more three-bed family homed added to the mix as X1 looks towards a Gateway 2 verdict from the Building Safety Regulator early this year.

In a non-material amendment application lodged with Trafford Council, X1’s architect Leach Rhodes Walker said that “we consider the changes to be non-material in nature, and in many ways an improvement on the scheme”.

The amendments have been run past council officers ahead of the submission.  Along with a reduction in height and the change in unit mix, changes include “greater external amenity space” and the addition of evacuation lifts.

The height reductions are relatively minor: with 375mm taken off the eight-storey Block A and 675mm off the 13-storey Block B.

Along with the additional lift provision, other Building Safety Act provisions include more cross-corridor doors and smoke shafts.

Ground was broken in autumn last year by principal contractor Bridgestone at the site, which takes up Parcel 3 within Peel’s Trafford Waters masterplan.

The project team for the development includes planner NJL Consulting, transport consultant TTHC, landscape architect Plincke, BWB, structural engineer Thomas Consulting and M&E engineer Prana.

X1’s scheme as given reserved matters approval in June 2024 included 55 one-bed flats, 149 two-beds and four three-beds. The revised design has 58 one-beds, 143 two-beds and seven three-beds.

The two blocks in the project are joined by a podium featuring undercroft parking with amenity space above.

X1’s project is the largest to come forward to date at the 55-acre Trafford Waters, which could in time see around 3,000 homes delivered between the Trafford Centre and the Manchester Ship Canal.

To see further detail on the project, use reference number 118044/NMA/25 on Trafford’s planning portal – the 2024 approval ‘s reference number is 111364/RES/23,