Early-stage plans for a residential development of 53 homes on land which was once home to a Royal Mail sorting office next to the redeveloping Stretford Mall have been submitted.

A screening report submitted to the Trafford council planning portal puts forward initial plans for the scheme on the four-acre site on Lacy Street, where there is a surface car park and vacant land once occupied by Royal Mail.

The proposal from Trafford council itself  is for a mix of two-bed apartments and two, three and four-bed houses.

It is for ‘low scale’ residential buildings intended to be in keeping with other properties in the area.

The new buildings would be of a maximum height of 3.5 storeys.

There will be a pedestrian and cycle route from the north west corner of the site down the Bridgewater Canal.

Public realm on the corner of Edge Lane and the A56 will also be provided alongside a comprehensive ‘green’ strategy around the road network. 

The site will be accessible from Chester Road for vehicles and for pedestrians and cyclists only on the eastern boundary from Bridgewater Way.

The report goes on: “Low car use/ownership is central to the design concept and approach. A package of transport improvements will be required to support the development, including the provision of cycling and walking routes.”

It said that some local disruption would be expected during the creation of the scheme from construction traffic and noise.

Other projects nearby include the Stretford Mall redevelopment and the Royal Canal Works project for 51 new homes.

A full planning application is expected to be submitted but the report says the ‘target mix’ of homes is six two-bed apartments, 10 two-bed terraced houses, 18 three-bed bed townhouses, seven three-bed townhouses with garages and 12 four-bed townhouses with 25 per cent affordable housing across the scheme.

The report also said a package of transport improvements will be needed to support the development.