Community invited to have its say in next stage of Stretford’s transformation

Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council are inviting the community to give its views on the revitalisation of its high street as part of a public consultation on detailed proposals for King Street, before a planning application is submitted in the coming weeks.

The public consultation will outline detailed proposals for King Street – the new retail heart of Stretford.

These include plans to reinstate historic King Street as a lively new high street, and to establish a new market hall, with independent market retail traders, eateries and bar areas, as well as outdoor seating to boost the local evening economy.

The proposals also include plans to modernise the multi-storey car park to make it light, convenient and secure.

The consultation will also invite community feedback on the ambitious wider masterplan for Stretford, including to create a new canalside neighbourhood, by regenerating the old Lacy Street car park and the former Royal Mail sorting office site.

Other proposals include the renovation of Arndale House to provide modern workspaces.

The masterplan proposals also include enhancing existing public open spaces, and the creation of large new open spaces and green areas – equivalent to 1.5 football pitches in size. The plans are designed to ensure that Stretford town centre is a great place to work, live, shop and play, by creating an attractive and economically sustainable town that draws more shoppers and visitors.

A consultation event will take place at Stretford Mall on Saturday, September 11, between 8am and 6pm. Proposed design plans for the revitalised King Street will be unveiled during the event, with CGIs on view and a specially created wooden replica model of the scheme presented.

Working in partnership, Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council have made a multimillion-pound commitment to transform Stretford town centre. Following earlier and well received community consultations, an outline planning application has been submitted to establish the broad parameters of the development, seeking permission for new access points and the demolition of a number of existing buildings.

The finer details of the transformation ‘Future Stretford’ project are still to be decided with final building designs, the specific numbers of homes, layouts, heights and precise locations of the planned buildings all points of discussion.

It is the answers to these questions that Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council would like to finalise with the community’s input, they said.

Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works, said: “We really want to invite local residents and the wider community to share their thoughts and input into the future of the King Street area, which will be the new retail heart of Stretford, as well as the wider masterplan for the town centre.

“The ongoing conversations behind this plan will ensure the composition, look and feel of this town centre works for current and future residents, as well as its visitors.

“The overwhelming responses already received at earlier stages of the design and planning process, have guided the developers and influenced ideas that you can now see in the mock-ups. We look forward to welcoming the community on Saturday to have their say – and ask our team any burning questions.”

Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “We are keen for as many residents as possible to give us their views on these exciting plans to regenerate Stretford Mall and the town centre.

“We have already received an incredible number of responses regarding the ongoing work and this will help shape our thoughts regarding the development. Trafford Council has made it a priority to create successful and thriving places and to have pride in our town centres – and that includes Stretford.”

Representatives from Bruntwood Works, Trafford Council, Royal Pilgrim Communications, FCBStudios, Avison Young, Studio Mutt and Exterior Architecture will be available at the event to answer any questions. The community can provide comments by filling in a feedback form on the day, or through the project website: www.futurestretford.co.uk