£20m Old Trafford development launched
TRAFFORD Housing Trust in Manchester has officially started building work at the three-acre £20m development around Shrewsbury Street in Old Trafford.
Representatives of the Trust, Trafford Council, contractors Willmott Dixon and the NHS have taken part in an official ground breaking event.
Also present was the Rev Peter Matthews, rector of St Bride’s Church, which is being demolished and rebuilt as part of the development.
The event marked the official start of works on the multi-purpose development which will include a community centre, a bistro café, a pharmacy, health care facilities, a public library, a multi-function activity hall, day nursery and sports changing rooms.
Another major component of the scheme will be 80 extra care apartments and facilities which will provide older and more vulnerable people with high quality accommodation with an emphasis on independent living.
The Trust is also working with the local community to develop a number of social enterprises due to be based at the development.
The Shrewsbury Street project will form an integral part of the wider Old Trafford Master Plan (OTMP) being led and delivered by Trafford Housing Trust in partnership with Trafford Council.
It received almost £3.1m Department of Health funding from the Homes and Communities Agency. The OTMP is expected to complete in summer 2017, and aims to use physical regeneration as a catalyst for wider social cohesion and economic growth and create a vibrant, sustainable community.
Chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust Matthew Gardiner said: “Trafford Housing Trust is 10 years old this year and the transformation of Shrewsbury Street is a great example of the investment, vision and commitment we continue to bring to the borough.
“The scheme will bring a real sense of identity and place to Shrewsbury Street and adjacent neighbourhoods, and the new facilities will form the centrepiece of the Trust’s long-term masterplan for the wider Old Trafford area.”
Trafford Council’s executive member for economic growth and planning, Cllr Michael Hyman, said: “This is a really exciting milestone to reach in the project and we are thrilled that work has begun on site, it will not be long before local people start to see some real changes taking place.
“The Council is delighted that it has been able to play its part in getting this project off the ground with the provision of the land on which to build the development, which itself is a great example of partners working together. We and the Trust are bringing facilities to promote health and wellbeing, as well as improved accommodation, and potentially employment and training opportunities.”
Stuart Belfield, of Wilmott Dixon, said: “Willmott Dixon is proud to be involved in this innovative project which will bring new community amenities to the heart of Old Trafford.”
