Planning application goes in for £200m Trafford Wharf scheme
A planning application involving the former Hilti HQ site, off Trafford Wharf Road in Stretford, has been submitted by Cole Waterhouse.
It follows a public consultation programme on the developer’s plans.
The vision is to deliver a mixed-use development on the brownfield site which will incorporate 438 built to rent apartments including 20% affordable homes for Trafford residents, 419 purpose-built student beds and a 24,057 sq ft new higher education facility with teaching space, offices, a range of student amenities and an on-site café. The former Hilti offices will be demolished, as part of the proposals.
Cole Waterhouse’s plans represent a multimillion-pound contribution to the local economy, with the creation of more than 1,300 jobs during construction and nearly 300 during operation.
The scheme will provide more than £1.6m in s106 planning contributions and has a GDV of approximately £200m.
Designed by Chapman Taylor, the scheme would feature two residential towers and include on-site amenities, extensive new landscaped public spaces as well as flexible commercial space at ground level.
The 2.2-acre plot is located within Trafford Council’s Wharfside regeneration zone which aims to transform the area, delivering up to 5,000 new homes and a new stadium for Manchester United.
Simon Gallanders, managing director of Cole Waterhouse residential, said: “This game-changing project would help to transform this well known brownfield site into a thriving new community. It would deliver hundreds of new homes helping to address the acute need for more affordable properties in Trafford.
“In addition, there has been significant growth in Manchester’s student population in recent years with estimates of a shortfall of up to 4,000 student beds.
“Trafford Wharf is well located with highly sustainable transport links to the education campuses in Salford and Manchester. It is the perfect location to provide top of the range student accommodation to help meet that need and we believe our plans will make a significant contribution to the continued regeneration of the wider area.”
Cole Waterhouse exchanged contracts to acquire the site from Hilti in April for an undisclosed sum and as part of the conditional purchase agreement the planning application is a joint submission with Hilti, which if successful, would see Hilti conclude its involvement in the scheme.
Paul Butler Associates is acting as planning consultant for the scheme Project Manager (TSA Riley), Quantity Surveyors/Cost Consultant (Russell Bolton Consulting), Structural Engineers (XO Square), M&E Engineers (Watt WECE) and Proximity delivered daylight/sunlight consultancy.
Hilti instructed Colliers International to sell its Trafford Wharf headquarters building in November 2020.
Earlier that year the construction equipment, software, and services specialist announced that it would relocate its Manchester headquarters to No.1 Circle Square on Oxford Road.
