Our Stretford

Stretford has a rich and fascinating history containing vital opportunity towards the identity of what a unique, reinvented Stretford could be.

King Street 

King Street was a vibrant place filled with independent shops and the source of immense civic pride. The great philanthropist John Rylands played a major role in shaping Stretford’s High Street, with community at its heart. Today King Street is...

The Mall

Stretford Mall has been at the heart of the town. Opened in 1969, it replaced the traditional shopping district centred around the former King Street. At the time of its opening, it was the sixth largest indoor shopping mall in the country. 

Stretford Mall, or the “Arndale” as it was known at the time, was opened six years ahead of the Manchester city centre location, and was the sixth biggest shopping mall in the country at the time.

Over the years the story that Mohammad Ali opened the centre has been ingrained into the fabric of the community, although he actually visited to promote malt-based bedtime drink Ovaltine!

PUTTING THE STREET BACK IN

Stretford regeneration will create a sustainable town centre for the people, by revitalising the high street and surrounding areas to create an experience with community at the heart of it.

The vision is to create a town centre experience to shop, work, play and stay, which is greener and healthier and has improved connectivity to link all neighbourhoods. This inclusive dynamic mixed-use development will create a new thriving community. With sustainability at its core, we are aiming for a self-sufficient town centre.

Since acquiring Stretford Mall in 2019, Bruntwood and Trafford Council have undergone an extensive consultation period with the general public and key stakeholders. After hosting three engagements across 15 months, both digitally and in-person we identified a number of consistent themes that helped shape our masterplan for Stretford:

  • People want a better, busier town centre
  • The area is ready for change, with improvements for the benefit of local people
  • Improved connections around and across Stretford is a major issue. People want better pedestrian routes and links to the Metrolink
  • Residents want a better quality environment, with more greenery and public open spaces

King Street in Stretford town centre

 

Stretford Mall Masterplan

A hybrid planning application for the Future Stretford proposals is being submitted to request approval for the redevelopment of the Mall and Lacy Street, for new access points and the demolition of a number of existing buildings. It sets the parameters for the development - to establish what can and can't be built.

These proposals aim to deliver a vibrant and economically sustainable new town centre for Stretford, with shops, employment, leisure opportunities and new homes. 

The main elements of the proposals are: 

  • to re-establish King Street as a lively new high street. We aim to keep existing businesses and attract new shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars to Stretford - including independent and well-known brands. 
  • significant and beautifully designed new public open spaces and green areas - equivalent to 1.5 football pitches.
  • significant investment to modernise the multi-storey car park to make it light, convenient, and safe.
  • ambitious plans for future improvements to Kingsway and Chester Road.
  • a maximum of 800 new homes.
  • a new St Matthew's residential quarter

King Street Planning Application

Focussing on the King Street shopping area, this will be a detailed planning application that works within the parameters established by the hybrid application.

(pictured: the emerging vision objectives)

 

 

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