It’s been confirmed that Trafford Council and developers Bruntwood have been given the green light to commence the “ambitious” town centre regeneration project in Stretford.
After the multi-million pound outline planning application was submitted at the end of 2021, following what was said to have been an “extensive period” of consultation with the local community, these approved plans are intended to set the parameters for future redevelopment, Trafford Council says.
New places to play, work, eat, shop, and live are to provided in Stretford town centre as part of the wider Stretford Masterplan and the Area Action Plan (AAP).
According to the Council and Bruntwood, there are also further proposals to provide up to 800 homes around Stretford Mall, St Matthews Church, and Lacy Street car park – which will include affordable housing and bring much-needed new homes to the area.
Sustainability and the high street regeneration is said to be at the heart of the masterplan.
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The plans centre around creating people-friendly spaces and new pedestrian routes into and around the town centre with the intention of “enhancing the flow of footfall around the area”, and creating more green meeting areas with public squares and open spaces, including a green biodiversity corridor and ‘Central Park’ at the heart of the town centre, through to a much-improved Bridgewater Canal waterside experience.
The green light has been given to commence the “ambitious” town centre regeneration project in Stretford / Credit: Bruntwood & Trafford Council
A new covered market hall is also planned.
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With the aim of boosting the local evening economy, according to Trafford Council and Bruntwood, the new market hall will create a home for retailers, eateries, and bars, with outdoor seating spilling out into a new south-facing community space, which will feature a covered shopping area.
Speaking on the approval of the plans, Cllr Andrew Western – Leader of Trafford Council – said: “The planning approval is a huge milestone for Trafford Council as we can now start work to redevelop the town centre for the whole community to enjoy.
“The Stretford Masterplan is a huge moment in our long-term collaborative partnership, and it’s a pleasure to work towards a shared vision and goals with Bruntwood and the local community who were involved every step of the way.
“These exciting plans will significantly improve connectivity, create valuable green and open spaces, and special places for people to gather and interact, [and] with the high street at the centre of the plans, the masterplan will also help attract local independent businesses and exciting retail and hospitality brands, while hugely enhancing the lives of residents and visitors. We are very proud to be giving this incredible scheme the green light.”
Sustainability and the high street regeneration is said to be at the heart of the masterplan / Credit: Bruntwood & Trafford Council
Bruntwood is known for having a track record in town centre regenerations.
The company says its purpose of “creating thriving cities” recognises the need for continuous investment in the town centres that surround them to help each other succeed, and the focus of its work around reviving town centres is ensuring “social, economic, and environmental sustainability”, and creating a space that is “dynamic, inspirational, and futureproof.”
The aim of these reinvigorated town centres, according to Bruntwood, is to evolve collaboration between residents and businesses to create “inclusive and social hubs that add vibrancy to the whole community.”
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We're pleased to announce, in partnership with @TraffordCouncil, that planning approval for the transformation masterplan for Stretford Mall & Town centre has been given the green light.The project is set to transform the area into a greener, healthier & more #sustainable area. pic.twitter.com/2FFuMXY5P2
Andrea George – Town Centre and Consumer Brands Director at Bruntwood – added: “Undertaking such an extensive consultation period with the local community allowed us to create a masterplan that provides for the people of Stretford and its surrounding areas, so we are very pleased that it has been given approval allowing us to start the process of breathing new life into the town centre.
“Through these plans, the high street will become the beating heart of the town and create a dynamic and entrepreneurial district that promotes collaboration and community.
“It’s fantastic to have achieved this milestone.
“We can now move ahead with our plans and start delivering a positive evolution of Stretford for its people.”
Greater Manchester’s ‘clean taxi’ plans backed by government funding
Danny Jones
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) ‘clean taxi’ initiative has been officially backed by the UK government, with an extra boost coming from a leading electric vehicle brand.
Millions of pounds are set to be pumped into the scheme over the coming years as the North West at large strives to become greener.
The Mayor himself, Andy Burnham, has made environmentally conscious travel a core part of his plans for the city region ever since he took up the post back in 2017; now he and his team are helping link up with connections in the capital to secure further investment.
With the new £8 million Hackney Support Fund being put into action as we speak, a further £2m is now set to go towards Manchester city centre and its surrounding boroughs via LEVC.
LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) have done away with classic petrol and diesel engines in their particular corner of the automotive industry, setting a more eco-friendly example for metropolitan cities up and down Great Britain.
As a result, Manchester City Council and the GMCA as a whole are looking to take a leaf out of their book as part of their wider carbon reduction targets, with local authorities having recently reaffirmed their five-year ‘climate change action plan’.
For context, the Hackney Support Fund in question is a series of government-backed grants aimed at helping taxi drivers replace older black cabs with more modern, zero-emission capable vehicles.
Not only that, but LEVC will also be offering licensed carriage drivers extended warranties on new and used TX cabs – like their new ‘eCity powetrain’ pictured above – as well as taxi scrappage allowance on other models.
Like any part of the country, our region itself has its own clean air goals, and with the continued expansion of the Bee Network continuing to advance that progress, we’re heading in the right direction.
It goes without saying that adding a fully-fledged fleet of cleaner, more energy-efficient EV taxis into that mix could help benefit these greener pursuits.
Managing Director at LEVC, Chris Allen, noted that the company has “helped the capital achieve legal air quality targets for the first time” and strongly believes that they can do the same up North.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our taxi trade is a vital part of Greater Manchester’s transport network and supports the local economy.
“That’s why we’re working hard to secure funding and practical support to help drivers upgrade to cleaner, greener vehicles – improving air quality for everyone, while protecting livelihoods. By backing our taxi trade, we’re building a fairer, healthier city-region for all.”
Paedophile cousins jailed for combined 58 years after sexually exploiting teen girls in Bury
Emily Sergeant
A duo of paedophile cousins have been handed lengthy jail sentences for non-recent child sexual exploitation.
Manzorr Hussain and Imtiaz Ali, from Bury and Radcliffe respectively, appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court this week, where they were subsequently jailed for the systematic grooming and sexual abuse of teenage girls in Bury during the late 1990s.
Hussain and Ali particularly targeted ‘vulnerable’ girls, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained as the two men were sentenced.
They groomed the victims by offering them alcohol, drugs, money, and lifts in their cars before subjecting them to repeated sexual abuse in homes, vehicles, and other locations in Bury and parts of Wales in the 1990s.
The abuse was orchestrated and sustained, with victims often being made to feel indebted to the men. In some cases, they were threatened or coerced into sexual acts.
At the time, both men ran market stalls, which is how they first met some of the girls.
#JAILED | Thanks to the bravery of the victims coming forward, two paedophiles have today been jailed for a combined 58 years for the systematic grooming and sexual abuse of vulnerable teenage girls in Bury during the late 1990s pic.twitter.com/lYsh2lXl7G
Following the trial, Hussain was jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault, while Ali was jailed for 28 years after being found guilty of five counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of an attempted indecent assault.
Chief Inspector Ian Partington, who was the senior investigating officer in this case, described Hussain and Ali as being ‘sexual predators’.
Claire Brinton, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), added: “These sentences reflect the severity of the appalling crimes committed by Manzorr Hussain and Imtiaz Ali, who deliberately targeted, groomed and systematically abused five vulnerable children, treating them as objects for their own sexual gratification.
“The defendants showed no remorse for their actions, which have had a lasting and profound impact on the victims’ lives.
“These women have carried the trauma of this abuse for more than two decades. I would like to thank them again for coming forward, speaking so bravely about what happened to them, and seeing this case through to its conclusion.
“I hope these sentences provide some sense of justice and closure for the victims and demonstrate that no matter how much time has passed, those who commit such heinous crimes against children will be held accountable.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th March 2022 
