Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council invite the community for views on updated proposed plans

Joint venture partners Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works are to hold a third community event this month regarding future plans for Stretford. The latest drop-in session follows the event in January and will update the community on the latest ideas for the town and the Mall, and ask for further feedback at this stage. 

The drop-in session will be held Saturday 21st March from 8am-6pm in Stretford Mall. Once again, complimentary refreshments will be provided during the day along with family activities throughout.

The consultation will outline feedback from the second event and share possible options for the development of the Mall. It will also update the community on Trafford Council’s wider Stretford Masterplan and Area Action Plan (AAP). Furthermore, the event will provide another chance for local people and groups to share their thoughts with the team.

January’s drop-in event at the Mall attracted thousands of people who shared feedback on how they wanted the plans to take shape and how it could fulfil the community’s overall priorities for Stretford town centre. Key themes identified included a focus on improving pedestrian and cycle links across Stretford, retaining and attracting more independent businesses to the Mall, improvements in leisure and shopping facilities generally and a need to make the area more accessible in the evenings.

Community feedback from the event in January is helping to inform and support Trafford Council’s bid for the Government’s Future High Streets Fund (FHSF). The fund, launched by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2018, is designed to support and fund local areas’ plans to make their high streets and town centres fit for the future. Trafford Council’s draft Stretford Masterplan successfully made it through to the second round of funding in 2019.

Cllr Andrew Western, Trafford Council leader, said: “We’d like to thank everybody who participated in the first two community engagement sessions in November and January. It was great to hear people’s continued positivity and enthusiasm for Stretford and the Mall. We are determined that the community should continue to be included in the debate about how we deliver the future for Stretford and the Mall.”

Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works are committed to working closely with the local community to ensure the successful and sustainable regeneration.

Andrew Cooke, Regional Director for Manchester at Bruntwood Works, said: “It was humbling to see so many local people at our event in January, so obviously enthused about the future of Stretford town centre. We received some really valuable and in-depth feedback last time and we would like to share our latest ideas with the community following their response. It is clear that our vision to breathe new life into Stretford and help it reach its full potential, is shared by many. Vibrant retail and leisure centres are at the heart of our local communities and are critical to the overall success of our towns and cities, by investing in them we can create exciting places that attract a wide range of people to want to live, work and play. 

“We look forward to revealing our latest ideas to transform Stretford Mall and continuing discussions with the local community to ensure local people’s views are factored into the exciting plans that will shape their town centre.”

Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council would like to thank everyone who brought along pictures and newspaper clippings that represent their favourite memories of Stretford. It was clear that the local community share fond memories and are enthusiastic about the future of the Mall and the wider Stretford area. A memory wall for the local community will be created within the Mall and the team would welcome further contributions at the next drop-in session. 

The drop-in session will take place within Stretford Mall, between 8am - 6pm on Saturday 21st March 2020. Once again members of the project team will be available to answer questions at the event.