The first phase of development is now on-site at Stretford Mall, and the Stretford Town Centre team will be attending our upcoming Stretford Social event on 7th October for our latest consultation. You'll be able to chat with the team and view our plans for the development.
In the meantime, here's some information about the development which should hopefully answer some frequently asked questions.
When did the work on King Street begin?
The first phase of development will began in June 2023.
How long will the first phase of work take?
Stretford Town Centre’s first phase of works is expected to take around 18 months and so we’re aiming to complete in late 2024. This includes improvements to King Street, King Street Square, Chester Road, the Multistory Carpark and the public realm.
You can read more about what to expect from the regeneration here.
Will I still be able to access Lloyds TSB and Nationwide during the King Street work?
Access to both banks will be retained throughout the development, but you will need to come via Chester Road as the King Street entrance is now closed for the health and safety for our customers and staff.
Both banks are not accessible from the internal part of the mall, please leave additional time when making your visit.
What’s happened to the Post Office?
When WHSmiths left the Mall in June and therefore the Post Office situated inside their store will be closing.
We are already in talks with a number of Post Masters to ensure that a replacement Post Office is in place by the time the current service closes. Our ambition is to make this a smooth transition with no loss of service and this is what we are working towards.
We will update as soon as we have further news on this.
What housing will be delivered as part of the scheme?
As part of our masterplan for Stretford Town Centre, we are committed to deliver c.800 homes. The residential development will cater for a wide mix of local needs, including affordable housing and townhouses. There will be a minimum of 25% affordable homes which was fixed through planning.
We will be working with a partner to deliver this element of the scheme; once we have chosen this partner there will be another consultation to discuss plans.
How tall will the development be?
The proposed changes seek approval to reduce building heights towards Barton Road, Wellington Street and Church Streets (two to three-storeys) with a slight increase the maximum heights proposed in the centre of the site development (four and six-storeys) with a pocket of a maximum of 10 and 12-storeys next to the seven-storey Arndale House and the six-storey multi storey car park only. These are maximum height parameters.
This approach allows for a better stepped transition to the neighbouring, predominantly low-rise residential properties around the site.
Will there still be a covered area once the King Street roof has been removed?
At the heart of the Town Centre, just off King Street Square, will be a new covered Market hall containing a number of smaller retail and F&B units.
We will be providing more detailed information on this area within the scheme in due course.
Will parking be reduced during the work on the multi storey car park?
The multi storey car park will be closed for a period of time in 2024 to enable the ramp to be removed and whilst refurbishment works take place.
What are the proposed amendments to the Hybrid masterplan?
Aldi to remain in its current location with improvements to the surface car park
Will you provide new school spaces, a doctors surgery or dentists?
Extra school places and health facilities are likely to be needed. We will work with Trafford Council officers and the local health service to agree what extra facilities are needed and where. This could be new facilities on site or it could mean funding to expand existing services elsewhere.
How much green space is being provided?
From previous consultations it is clear that the community wanted much more greenery and open space in the town centre. The town centre proposals will create new squares and parks in the town centre. The new central park will be approx 85m x 35m (0.3 hectares).
Are you providing enough car parking in the town centre for shoppers, visitors and new residents?
Regular visitors will know that the existing multi storey car park is not well used. As part of the redevelopment we will re-open the top floors for parking.
There will be parking spaces for the townhouses and a proportion of the apartments. New residents with mobility requirements will be given priority to have accessible parking spaces close to homes. Details of parking provision will be subject to agreement with Trafford Council as each phase of development comes forward.
Parking for people with disabilities and parent & child parking will still be provided close to Aldi.
How will you ensure that existing residents aren’t disadvantaged by new residents parking on neighbouring streets?
We will run parking surveys on the surrounding local streets before and after any construction to understand how the new development is affecting parking in the surrounding area. If needed we will put funding towardsTraffic Regulation Orders, to control parking on the surrounding streets and protect parking for existing residents. Any changes to existing Traffic Regulation Orders or parking permit systems would require neighbour consultation to comply with legal requirements.
Who will maintain the development, cut the grass, keep it clean etc?
A Management Company will be created to oversee maintenance and security within the town centre.New residents are likely to be required to pay a service charge towards this, along with the shops and business.
How will you prevent anti-social behaviour?
The development will be designed to have security measures in place, lots of visibility and good quality lighting throughout.
The town centre shops will also benefit from additional management and security, like the Mall currently does.
We will work with Greater Manchester Police and other agencies to ensure that the development is designed with safety and security as paramount.
When will work start and when will it be complete?
Subject to planning permission, we expect work to begin in 2025. Building work will take around 4 -5 years to be finished.
Construction working hours will be agreed later, but we would assume standard daytime working during the week, up until lunchtime on Saturdays and no working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Why is the work being completed in phases?
By phasing the work and doing smaller areas of the site at a time, we can keep disruption for neighbours and shoppers to a minimum.
Who will pay for this regeneration?
This is a joint venture between Trafford Council and Bruntwood. Together we are looking at various public and private funding streams to deliver this regeneration. In 2021, Stretford received £17.6 million of funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund. This funding will go some way to kick starting the project.
How do we know that you will build new shops and amenities and not just build more housing to maximise profits?
Trafford Council and Bruntwood are committed to regenerating Stretford town centre and providing the right mix of new shops, employment spaces, homes and services. As this is a public/private partnership, the financial elements of the development will be open to public scrutiny and any profits made by Trafford Council will be reinvested for the benefit of Council Tax payers.
Are you keeping the same shops in Stretford town centre?
We would like to keep those existing retailers who wish to stay and attract new brands in. We want Stretford to be a busy town centre with the right amount of shops, workspaces, great cafes and restaurants, community facilities, green spaces and play spaces to serve the needs of local people and visitors. New homes will add people and bring life to the town centre.
What are the timescales for the consultation?
The consultation period is set to conclude on Sunday 15th October. We will diligently gather and integrate all the feedback we receive into the final amendments.
Following this, we plan to submit the Section 73 planning application in November 2023.
How can I have my say?
The best way to do this is via our online survey which can be found at: https://bruntwood.commonplace.is
If you have any questions about the proposed plans you can call us 0161 956 4176 or email planningconsultations.uk@avisonyoung.com.
If you have further questions regarding the development or the future of Stretford Town Centre please contact: stretfordtowncentreteam@bruntwood.co.uk and we will get back to you.
Stretford town centre and Trafford Council are inviting the local community to name a brand new public square that is set to open in the heart of Stretford next year. Connecting the newly restored King Street and Pinnington Lane, the new public square will play a key part in the transformation of the area.
Popular Stretford pizzeria, Bakehouse32, has announced that it will be expanding into a brand new location, right in the heart of Stretford town centre. Taking over part of the former Stretford Foodhalls unit, Bakehouse32 is set to open in its new location this summer.
The redevelopment of Stretford town centre is gathering pace, with significant strides made behind the scenes over the past eight months.