Investments drive increased footfall at Manchester’s Printworks

Printworks, the Manchester leisure and retail scheme, has seen its biggest month for footfall in more than two years.

The city centre location unveiled a £27m refurbishment in March this year, including its centrepiece, a new 1,000 sq m digital ceiling screen – the largest in Europe – covering the scheme’s internal streets.

New figures now show that last month, November, was the site’s busiest month of footfall in more than two years, with the destination driving an uplift of 15.2% when compared with the same period in 2023.

It was the prelude to record-breaking footfall figures earlier this month for the centre’s Christmas lights switch-on.

As the only city centre location to host its own Christmas lights switch-on, Printworks attracted thousands of families, achieving a 58% year-on-year increase in footfall compared with the same period in 2023.

The event also delivered the highest Friday attendance in two years, with an impressive 90% week-on-week boost.

The digital ceiling captivated attendees with mesmerising Christmas animations, setting a new benchmark for immersive experiences in the UK.

Dan Davis, Printworks Centre Manager, said: “2024 has been a game changing year for Printworks. From welcoming innovative leisure operators to hosting vibrant experiential and innovative events, our £27m investment has redefined what a destination can offer. The success of our Christmas lights switch-on showcases the value of creating immersive, one-of-a-kind experiences.”

Another rejuvenated centre enjoying increased footfall has been Stamford Quarter, in Altrincham’s town centre, which is celebrating a successful year following further investment into the retail, leisure, workspace and public realm from owners, Manchester property group Bruntwood and Trafford Council.

The joint venture has reported that year-on-year footfall considerably increased throughout October and November by 16.5% and 23.9%, respectively, boosted by a £1.7m investment into the public realm which completed in August, and the arrival of a number of new high profile retail and leisure providers.

Stamford Quarter

Footfall across the high street reached nearly 8.4 million in 2024, up six per cent year on year, reflecting the continued investment into the town which has seen its fortunes change to become one of the best high streets in the country.

This investment has also seen average headline rents increase by 19% due to the reducing vacancy levels.

During 2024 Bruntwood and Trafford Council also completed the £13.7m redevelopment of Foundation, the former House of Fraser store at the entrance to Stamford Quarter.

It was designed to bring a revitalised work and lifestyle offer to the town centre, with flexible workspace options in various sizes, appealing to both scale-ups and well established businesses.

James Tootle, head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood, said: “It’s been a big year for the Quarter with our significant public realm works coming to an end, which has truly brought the area to life and created a space where the community want to spend time, either shopping, socialising or working.

“It’s also opened up the high street to create a more welcoming experience for people coming out of the transport interchange and into the town – our vibrant town centre is no longer hidden from view.”

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “The fact that footfall is up 24% in November is fantastic news and I am delighted that Altrincham continues to go from strength to strength. High streets across the UK are continuing to struggle so this is obviously a huge achievement.”