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Stretford town centre development gathers pace - a sneak peak behind the scenes reveals more of what's to come.
The redevelopment of Stretford town centre is gathering pace, with significant strides made behind the scenes over the past eight months.
The high street is taking shape
The roof of Stretford Mall has been removed, flooding the street with natural light and once again opening up the high street. King Street, which last saw daylight in the 1970s, has been fully opened up offering a nostalgic glimpse into our town centre’s heritage. Amidst construction, hidden gems have been revealed including a vintage street sign for "Pinnington Lane" which will now form part of the new town centre's wayfinding.
"The opening up of King Street is a powerful reminder of how the high street was once the beating heart of the town centre and what will be reinstated for Stretford’s residents and visitors when the works are complete."
- James Tootle, Head of Retail & Leisure Bruntwood
What’s next…
The development team are now busy working on restoring King Street to become the heart and soul of the town. The individual retail units which were once inside the Mall are now being rebuilt to create fresh spaces that will house established independent shops as well as national brands, including familiar faces and new businesses in Stretford town centre.
Exciting conversations are currently taking place and we will be able to announce some of the first retailers set to join Stretford’s vibrant new high street very soon.
Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “The work Trafford Council is carrying out with Bruntwood will completely transform Stretford into a vibrant and modern town centre for all residents to enjoy. I am pleased with the progress we are making on the transformation of Stretford and our work to create a vibrant and exciting King Street is also taking shape and will bring a mixture of local and national traders to the area.”
Work has also begun on the multi-storey car park. This will enhance the security, accessibility, and overall safety of the car park, providing a much-needed upgrade for the community. A noteworthy milestone in the development journey is on the horizon with the scheduled removal of the unsightly multi-storey car park ramp in April, this long-standing structure has impeded connectivity throughout the town centre. Throughout the works, there will be ample parking as a temporary new surface car park has been created between the Chester Road entrance and St Matthew's Church - this space is being used temporarily whilst the multi-storey works take place, which are expected to be complete by Spring 2025.
The temporary car park will be open Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm and on Sundays from 9am to 4:30pm. The original surface car park area remains open for use 24 hours a day.
Stretford Socials and meet the development team
If you’ve not visited the Stretford Socials yet then you’re missing out on a great community event. Stretford Socials take place on the first Saturday of each month and there’s local craft, community and food & drink stalls, children’s activities, swap shops and much more. The next Stretford Socials event will take place on Saturday 6th April 12-4pm, with a special ‘Sustainability’ theme to mark Earth Day.
Additionally, don't miss the opportunity to meet the Stretford town centre development team from 12 to 2pm. They'll be on hand to provide insights into the progress of the town centre works and answering any questions you may have.
A COMMUNITY SQUARE FOR THE PEOPLE
At the top of the new high street there will be a public square - a place for the community to come together. We will be harnessing the power of the community to help shape the identity of the new square through a ‘name the square’ project, with voting stations set up within the town centre and at the Stretford Socials. This project will be kicking off in the next few weeks, so follow our social media channels to find out more!
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
A recent addition to the town centre is the Post Office on Chester Road. It has quickly become a key part of the local community which offers a wide range of postal services and other important services including a range of travel money, Passport Check & Send, vehicle tax, on demand travel insurance, driving licence renewal, gas and electric top-up and ID verification.
Post Master Arif Matadar, commented:
"The new Post Office opened in Stretford town centre last year and we’re really pleased to be part of the local area. We love being part of the local community and have settled in really well. All our customers and the local businesses have welcomed us and feel part of the local neighbourhood. It's great being part of Stretford at such an exciting time for the town as the works gather pace. We are looking forward to seeing the next stage of the development and 2024 is set to be a busy year as the changes unfold, and we start to see the new King Street unveiled."
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