Trafford councillors approve town hall plans

MANCHESTER-based 5plus Architects and Shepherd Developments have secured planning permission from Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council for the redevelopment of its town hall.

Councillors passed a vote stating that they were “minded to approve” the works, although the decision no needs to be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. If approved, it will then be referred back to the council for the Chief Planning Officer to ratify the decision.

The £22m, 96,000 sq ft project will have four separate elements.

The first is the refurbishment of the council’s Grade II-listed town hall building, including its historic council chamber, and the creation of new meeting, conference and training facilities.

The second is for 45,000 sq ft of new open plan office space to be created within three two-storey ‘wings’, the third is for the creation of a new public reception and conference area fronting Warwick Road and the fourth is for a new two-storey internal street to be created through the middle of the building.

The council said that the new building fits with its aim of offering more flexible working and desk-sharing to deliver an overall 60% reduction in the number of desks it allocates to staff.

Paul Norbury, director of 5plus Architects said: “The successful, and unanimous, grant of planning permission follows two years of hard work.

“Encompassing architecture, masterplanning, interiors and graphics, this exciting project captures the best of the past, integrated with a 21st Century working environment. Our design will revitalise a significant civic building for the benefit of the people of Trafford.”

Leader of Trafford Council, Cllr Matt Colledge said: “Trafford Town Hall requires an immediate programme of significant  repairs if it is to remain operational.

“Redeveloping now will prevent the building going into further decay which would necessitate greater expense down the line and will provide us with an opportunity to make millions of pounds worth of savings- money that will be used to support front-line services. The planning application approval means we are now one step closer to being able to begin work on this crucial project.”

If approval is granted by the Secretary of State, building work should start in the summer and will be complete by the end of next year.