Delivering Growth in Trafford

Trafford, situated in the southwest of Greater Manchester, is renowned for its blend of world-class sporting venues, historic listed buildings, and beautiful green spaces, making it a highly desirable place to call home. The borough encompasses a range of towns that stretch from urban neighbourhoods near Manchester City Centre and Salford to the Cheshire border, each offering its distinct character and strong sense of community.

Trafford is also celebrated as the birthplace of the world’s first modern industrial estate, established in 1896. This pioneering site has driven the borough’s economic growth and now serves as a premier hub for manufacturing, distribution, and large-scale industry. With a current focus on financial and business services, logistics, advanced engineering, cultural, creative, digital and media industries, as well as investing heavily in net zero and energy innovation, Trafford hopes to continue to prosper its economy as a great place to do business.

Now, Trafford is working to deliver continued growth by increasing employment opportunities, enhancing its town centres and creating a greener future. Its strategic location near Manchester Airport and Manchester City Centre has historically fostered development, a trend further enhanced by excellent motorway links and robust public transport connections.

Here are some of the transformative developments in Trafford that will help the borough achieve its goal for continued growth:

Wharfside

Trafford Council has revealed exciting and ambitious plans to regenerate an area neighbouring MediaCity and surrounding Manchester United’s Old Trafford football stadium.

The Council’s draft Trafford Wharfside masterplan offers a vision for the Trafford Wharfside area as a key emerging neighbourhood over the next 15 years. The masterplan places nature and landscape at the heart of its vision, celebrates the Manchester Ship Canal waterfront and the Imperial War Museum, creates opportunities for up to 5,000 high-quality new homes, connects Trafford Wharfside to the city centre and develops a high-quality setting for Manchester United as they develop their plans for a world-class football stadium.

An economic report commissioned by the club highlights the transformative potential of the project. Conducted by Oxford Economics, the preliminary assessment suggests the development could contribute £7.3 billion annually to the UK economy. The proposals also aim to generate 92,000 new jobs, attract an additional 1.8 million visitors annually, and drive significant economic growth.

In September 2024, Manchester United entered a strategic partnership with Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to further advance plans. This collaboration seeks to unlock opportunities for growth and regeneration across the Trafford Wharfside and Old Trafford areas.

The vision for Trafford Park is not only to create a world-class sports venue but also to establish a thriving community hub. The development aligns with local authorities’ goals of fostering economic growth, housing expansion, and enhanced public infrastructure, promising transformative benefits for the region.

Trafford Council also commissioned Siemens on a project to decarbonise Trafford Park. The Low Carbon Trafford Park 2038 study, proposed by Siemens, sets out to identify, cost and measure the impacts of low-carbon technologies at the industrial estate. The Council is aiming for the borough to be net zero in the next 15 years.

New Carrington

New Carrington is a key strategic location identified in Places for Everyone (PfE), a long-term plan for sustainable growth across nine Greater Manchester districts. Adopted in 2024, PfE has become part of the statutory development framework for these areas, including Trafford. The plan outlines how new homes, jobs, and infrastructure will be developed to ensure balanced and sustainable growth.

The development set out for New Carrington will provide approximately 5,000 homes and 350,000 square meters of employment space for industry and warehousing (B2 and B8). The development will be integrated with surrounding communities in Partington, Carrington, and Sale West. The site will also preserve significant Green Belt areas and include strategic green spaces.

This development will improve local transport links, enhance community services, and stimulate regeneration, making New Carrington a vital area for future growth in Trafford and Greater Manchester.

Davenport Green

Davenport Green is a major allocation within the Places for Everyone Joint Local Plan. It is strategically located adjacent to Manchester Airport, the M56 and planned High Speed Rail Station. Ultimately, the site will deliver some 2,500 new homes and 80,000 sqm of business space – with potential for further expansion once the proposed station is completed.

The initial stages of development have now achieved planning consent, and master planning is well underway on the remainder of the site. With Royal London Asset Management as the principal landowner, Davenport Green has the potential to become a flagship development for the wider south of Manchester.

The Civic Quarter and Lumina Village

The Civic Quarter lies at the heart of Old Trafford and exemplifies the regeneration already underway in this location. Backed by a statutory Area Action Plan, proposals for the neighbourhood will ultimately deliver around 4,000 new homes, with accompanying commercial and business development. Several sites are already under construction, but further development opportunities are plentiful, with sites ranging from 100 to 700 residential units.

In the centre of the Quarter, work is advancing steadily on Lumina Village, an ambitious multi-million-pound project set to create a sustainable community of 639 homes next to the renowned Old Trafford cricket ground and the UA92 higher education institution. The £250 million development will transform the area with six apartment blocks ranging from six to 20 storeys high, along with 53 townhouses situated off Talbot Road.

The scheme spans 5.4 acres and emphasises public spaces, featuring a village green, civic square and boulevards, all designed to foster a pedestrian-friendly environment. Ground-floor retail units, offering 5,300 sq. ft. of commercial space, will face the cricket ground. The homes will include a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom townhouses, catering to a range of needs with options for private rent, shared ownership, and affordable housing.

Funding for the project is shared by Moorfield, backing the Build to Rent (BTR) segment with 440 units, which are being delivered by Glenbrook, and Clarion Housing Group, providing 199 affordable homes through shared ownership and social rent. Homes England and GMCA grants have further supported the delivery of affordable homes and brownfield site redevelopment.

The Council has also teamed up with the GMCA and FEC with a plan to transform Greater Manchester Police’s former HQ in Stretford into new homes.

Trafford City & Trafford Waters

Innovative projects such as the 28-acre Therme Spa complex are about to start on the site, and other leisure and commercial projects are in the pipeline at Trafford City, on land owned by Peel.

The regeneration of Trafford City also includes the development of Trafford Waters as a key component of the next phase of Manchester Invest Partner, Peel Land’s project. As Trafford City moves into its next stage, Trafford Waters will become a vibrant new destination where thousands of people will live, work, and enjoy their leisure time. The development will span 53 acres along the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, adjacent to Trafford City, with outline planning permission already granted for a sustainable new community.

Trafford Waters is set to create 3,000 new homes designed to accommodate 5,000 key workers, young professionals, and families. This major mixed-use development will be one of the largest of its kind in Greater Manchester, offering not just residential space but also 800,000 square feet of commercial office and workspace, as well as convenience retail.

The development will be supported by essential community amenities, including a new school and health centre, all set in beautifully designed public spaces that encourage community interaction and sustainability.

The vision for Trafford Waters is set to unfold over the next 20 years, shaping a dynamic new community that blends residential living with modern business opportunities, creating a thriving hub within Greater Manchester.

Stretford Mall

Trafford Council has unveiled an ambitious vision for Stretford’s regeneration, aiming to transform the town centre over the next decade into a vibrant and sustainable hub. The plan seeks to revitalise the high street, enhance green spaces, and strengthen the sense of community in Stretford.

Covering more than 27 acres and five distinct neighbourhoods, the regeneration master plan focuses on creating inviting public spaces, developing canal side areas, and improving pedestrian and Metrolink connectivity, all guided by public feedback.

A key component of the transformation is the redevelopment of Stretford Mall, a central shopping destination, in collaboration with Bruntwood. The project aims to establish a thriving town centre that integrates retail, leisure, employment, and residential opportunities. Infrastructure renovations surrounding the mall have already started, with new road layouts and pedestrian areas available, with continued work planned.

Key proposals include reimagining King Street as a bustling high street to support independent businesses, local shops, and eateries while boosting the evening economy with new bars and restaurants. Plans also feature 1.5 football pitches’ worth of green spaces and public areas, and a residential development which will deliver up to 800 new homes.

Altrincham Town Centre

As Trafford’s largest town centre, Altrincham has a historic market, specialist independent businesses, high street names and a vibrant mix of restaurants. It has a thriving commercial sector and high daytime footfall, with a growing residential population.

Trafford Council has invested a further £3m in Altrincham’s public realm to create more seating areas, nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, reduce the number of vehicles and improve cycling safety with segregated cycle lanes.

There are also plans for several residential developments across Altrincham, with developers and residents attracted by the continuing desirability to live there.

Sale Town Centre

Situated in the vibrant heart of Sale Town Centre, The Square marks an exciting first step in the ambitious transformation of The Square Shopping Centre. This dynamic mixed-use development is poised to breathe new life into the area, creating a welcoming gateway into Sale from the south.

A thoughtfully designed public realm enhances pedestrian flow and connectivity, while ground-floor spaces come alive with new shops, bars, and restaurants. Adding to the vibrancy, The Square will offer 184 stylish apartments, 18 contemporary townhouses, a state-of-the-art cinema, and ample public and private parking—crafting a lively hub where people can live, shop, and thrive.

Work is also underway to transform the former Sale Magistrates Court into 84 new homes, including 21 affordable properties, in the centre of the town.

These exciting regeneration projects across Trafford are set to transform the area, creating vibrant new communities, enhancing local economies, and delivering substantial growth in housing and employment opportunities. From the development of New Carrington to the dynamic plans for Trafford Waters, these initiatives are shaping the future of Greater Manchester and offering significant investment potential.

If you're interested in learning more about these developments and the opportunities to invest in Trafford, come and visit the Manchester Stand at MIPIM 2025. MIPIM provides an invaluable platform to explore the details of these transformative projects, network with key stakeholders, and discover how Trafford is becoming a prime location for investment.

Join us at MIPIM 2025 to be part of Trafford's exciting future and explore the potential to contribute to the region’s ongoing success and growth.