A year of momentum at Stamford Quarter fuels confidence for 2026

Altrincham's Stamford Quarter finished 2025 in a position few UK town centres can match: near-full occupancy across retail and workspace, and over 4.5 million visitors recorded in 2025 (an increase of 14 per cent on 2024).That performance sits within a broader uplift for Altrincham town centre as a whole, which welcomed 8.73 million visitors in 2025, up 2.2 per cent on the previous year.

Throughout 2025, Bruntwood focused on delivering new and updated retail space at Stamford Quarter to drive footfall and respond to changing retailer demand. This included the redevelopment of former units such as the former Poundland store, which was pre-let to Oliver Bonas. Alongside this, the destination welcomed Crew Clothing's first Greater Manchester store, the UK's second ever Co-op ‘On the Go’ micro-store concept and attracted premium brands including Rituals.

Renewals from established national names including Next and EE have further strengthened the retail mix, while conversations are ongoing for the last two units in Stamford Square, highlighting continued confidence in the destination. It’s clear that businesses aren’t just choosing Stamford Quarter, they’re backing it for the long term. Further announcements are expected on the remaining space in the coming weeks, positioning Stamford Quarter strongly for the year ahead. Backed by the joint venture between owners Bruntwood – a leading property developer – and Trafford Council, the location continues to demonstrate what long-term investment and place-led regeneration can deliver for a town centre.

Foundation, Bruntwood's workspace offering at Stamford Quarter, delivered an equally impressive performance with 23,711 sq ft let in 2025. The year's standout moment came when full-service creative and digital marketing agency, TGG, took the last full floor – a significant commitment that left just one small suite available and brought the building to near-full occupancy. That daily presence of workers creates a built-in, engaged audience at Stamford Quarter, who shop, dine and spend time locally throughout the week, reinforcing the idea that workspace can be a catalyst for town-centre vibrancy.

The mixed-use model powering Altrincham’s success

Much of Stamford Quarter’s success stems from its intentional blend of retail, leisure, workspace and public realm – which included new landscaping, enhanced seating and improved pedestrian routes for a more welcoming, accessible destination. This mix encourages people to stay, not just stop by and footfall peaked during August and September - bringing in 430,033 (14 per cent increase YOY) and 435,503 (18.5 per cent increase YOY) visitors respectively, and reinforcing the destination’s growing appeal.

This quality of place has played a clear role in shaping retailer decision-making. Brands increasingly look for locations where experience-led retail can flourish and Stamford Quarter has become exactly that. LookFantastic selected the destination for its first-ever concept store in 2024 because it recognised the strength of an area that drives steady footfall, longer dwell times and repeat visits. Rituals invested in a premium, sustainability-focused fit-out for the same reason and Oliver Bonas committed to opening a store in December following targeted investment in Stamford Square. These choices reflect a wider trend that shows retailers are gravitating towards town centres where the conditions are right for deeper customer engagement.

Sustainability is also becoming a differentiator for businesses and Stamford Quarter’s approach is both tangible and impactful. Foundation’s green wall system – a 4,037 sq ft ‘living wall’ made up of thousands of plants – is one of the most visible symbols of Bruntwood’s’ commitment to long-term, place-led regeneration, and the business has recently installed a second 4,575 sq ft green wall in Stamford Square. Between them, these urban biosystems are now home to more than 125 invertebrate species, have absorbed over 1209 of CO2 and have consumed over 440k micrograms of particulate matter from the air, making Stamford Quarter a healthier, more attractive and future-ready destination. Figures are updated daily through a mobile report, underlining Bruntwood’s focus on transparency and its desire to make the environmental impact of Stamford Quarter visible and meaningful to the people who use it.

Chris Houghton, Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, said: “Looking back at 2025, what really stands out to me is that Stamford Quarter hasn’t just performed well, it has shown what the future of a successful town centre can look like. At a time when so many UK high streets are still feeling the strain, Altrincham is proving that when you invest in people-first regeneration, curate the right blend of uses and build genuine community around a place, you get lasting, sustainable growth. That doesn’t happen by chance – it happens because the ingredients are right. “Stamford Quarter has become a destination with its own rhythm and energy. You see it in the weekday buzz created by Foundation, the way people use the new public realm and the confidence retailers are showing when they choose to open here. Those decisions tell us that brands aren’t just occupying space, they’re seeing the commercial opportunity in a town centre that’s thriving.

“As we head into 2026, this gives us real confidence. We’re continuing conversations with new retailers who already recognise the strength of Altrincham’s offer, while exploring fresh opportunities with those drawn to the momentum building here. Stamford Quarter has something genuinely distinctive, and this year has shown how the right blend of investment, community and experience can deliver meaningful impact.”

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council's Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: "We're delighted that Altrincham town centre has become a destination of choice for so many people to visit, shop and spend time in. "This success is down to strong and effective partnership working, an enthusiastic, proactive business community and of course residents who are keen to support local traders and services. It's a great example of a modern, thriving town that's hard to rival."