£200m Two-Acre Development Planned for Trafford
Plans have been moved forward for 438 build-to-rent apartments, 419 student beds, and a 24,100 sq ft academic facility at the former Hilti headquarters in Stretford.
Cole Waterhouse said its proposals for the two-acre brownfield plot off Trafford Wharf Road represent a gross development value of £200m. The application submission follows a consultation in September 2024.
Designs by Chapman Taylor call for two BTR towers of 21 storeys and 24 storeys. The purpose-built student accommodation would be spread across residential blocks that go from six storeys to 10. 20% of these flats would be designated as affordable and reserved for residents of Trafford.
The academic building would be for higher education and include offices, an on-site café, and various student amenities in addition to classrooms.
The design for Cole Waterhouse’s Trafford Wharf plans includes a landscaped public realm.
Gallanders also spoke about the need for PBSA.
“There has been significant growth in Manchester’s student population in recent years with estimates of a shortfall of up to 4,000 student beds,” he said.
“Trafford Wharf is well located with highly sustainable transport links to the education campuses in Salford and Manchester,” Gallanders continued.
“It is the perfect location to provide top-of-the-range student accommodation to help meet that need and we believe our plans will make a significant contribution to the continued regeneration of the wider area.”
Cole Waterhouse estimated that its plans would create more than 1,300 jobs during its construction and nearly 300 once in operation. The scheme is set to make £1.6m in Section 106 contributions.