Mancunians are being asked for their say on an ambitious multi-million pound masterplan to transform Stretford Mall and the surrounding area.
The masterplan – which is being put forward by the joint venture between Bruntwood Works and Trafford Council – will provide places to play, work, shop and live in Stretford town centre, as part of the wider Stretford Masterplan and the Area Action Plan (AAP).
The initial proposals are now being shared following feedback and responses collated over “an extensive 15-month public consultation” with the local community.
The proposed transformation – which covers more than 27 acres and comprises five neighbourhoods (Victoria, St Ann’s, Lacy Street, Stretford Centre and Stretford House) – includes plans for a phased redevelopment of Stretford Mall, the historic King Street to be reinstated to provide a thriving high street, as well as improved transport links, pedestrianised streets, more greenery and open spaces, and a reconfigured town centre with better connections to the Bridgewater canal.
It also includes plans to repurpose the Lacy Street area, which will unlock the connection between the town centre and the canal – an important green infrastructure and recreational route.
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More green meeting areas will be created with public squares and open spaces, with proposals for a green biodiversity corridor including a Library Square and a ‘Central Park’ at the heart of the town centre.
Plans will also create improved access to the Bridgewater canal.
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There are also further plans to provide up to 800 varied residential units around Stretford Mall and St Matthew’s Church, which will include affordable housing.
Bruntwood Works / Trafford Council
Speaking on the unveiling of the masterplan, Cllr Andrew Western – Leader of Trafford Council – said: “I am hugely excited by the wide-ranging regeneration plans for Stretford and I know local residents also share that excitement.
“Trafford Council has placed regeneration at the heart of our corporate priorities.
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Stretford has enormous potential, making it one of the most exciting towns in the region [and] by sharing ideas and plans with the local community, we’ve ensured residents are at the centre of proposals for its future.
“The Stretford Masterplan is the culmination of a long-term collaborative partnership, and it’s a pleasure to work towards a shared vision and goals with Bruntwood Works and the local community. The proposals will significantly improve connectivity, create valuable green and open spaces, and hubs for people to gather and interact, [while also helping to] attract local independent businesses and exciting retail and hospitality brands [and] enhance the lives of local residents and visitors.”
Andrea George – Town Centre & Consumer Brands Director at Bruntwood Works – said: “One key theme to emerge from the public’s feedback is the importance of bringing back a vibrant high street, which will be the beating heart of the town.
“We plan to do this by reinstating King Street and delivering the right blend of retail, leisure, workspace and mixed use space to meet the needs of the community, where local independents can be neighbours with exciting brands.
“Green and open spaces that can safely bring people together are at the centre of our proposals.
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“The plan will deliver a mix of leafy public squares and parks, including Library Square and Central Park, and change traffic flows around the town to make it easier and safer to get around town on foot and by bicycle, while connecting the town centre with the canal waterfront.
“We look forward to working in partnership with local residents, businesses and Trafford Council to help reinvigorate Stretford town centre, and build upon its heritage so it works better for the future.”
Bruntwood Works / Trafford CouncilBruntwood Works / Trafford Council
The masterplan released today follows three rounds of public consultation in 2020, with thousands of local residents taking part.
Residents are now able to provide feedback on the plans via the Stretford Mall Public Consultation website here, and the planning application for the Stretford Mall and Lacy Street masterplan – the first schemes to be developed to turn the plan into reality – is due to be submitted in February 2021.
The consultation window for resident feedback is open until 5th February 2021.
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Molly-Mae Hague has welcomed her first baby… according to boxer Jake Paul
Daisy Jackson
Jake Paul appears to have spilled the beans on Molly-Mae Hague, announcing that she has given birth to her first baby with his rival Tommy Fury.
Super influencer Molly-Mae, 23, has maintained radio silence on Instagram for the last week, leading to many fans speculating that she has welcomed her baby girl and is taking some privacy out of the public eye.
Many assumed that she would bide her time for a huge announcement video, as she did with her pregnancy announcement back in September.
But it appears that Jake Paul has jumped the gone and made the announcement for the young couple, who met on the fifth series of Love Island.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake posted on Twitter today, alongside a poster promoting his upcoming fight with Tommy: “Tommy has no excuses now…Baby’s born. Money’s massive. Immigration no issue.
Tommy has no excuses now…Baby’s born. Money’s massive. Immigration no issue.
Tyson promises he & Papa will make Tommy retire from boxing & change his last name if he can’t beat the YouTuber.
Tmw I’m coming to London to look at all 3 Fury’s in the eye & shake on that promise. pic.twitter.com/hMBFCabMoS
Another wrote: “ermmm did Jake Paul just let slip that Molly Mae’s given birth before she announced it or??”
Someone else commented: “Not Jake Paul announcing molly mae having her baby before molly mae what a prick.”
Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury have not yet addressed the message from Jake Paul.
Featured image: Instagram, @mollymae
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Tim Healy surprises fans with performance at The 1975’s Newcastle gig
Danny Jones
The 1975’s tour has seen some seriously memorable moments so far, including several special guest appearances, but seeing Tim Healy give a surprise performance has to be the jewel in the crown.
While the band might have formed in the Wilmslow and plied their trade in Manchester on their way to success, several members of the current lineup — including frontman Matty Healy himself — were born in Newcastle, so the gig at the Utilita Arena on Wednesday was very much a homecoming show.
With that in mind, when British TV royalty, Geordie icon and Matty’s old man, Tim Healy popped up on stage, the crowd understandably went wild.
There were no doubt plenty of confused faces when a trademark Matty monologue and sudden cut to black was followed by the bloke from Benidorm appearing up on stage, but there was also a scream bigger than any response Taylor Swift got.
Whipping out some significantly more dramatic thespian ability than the kind you’d associate with his Auf Wiedersehen, Pet days, albeit still fully aware of bizarre the entire spectacle was, he brought one of his son’s trademark digressions about method acting to a close.
But better than that, the 70-year-old ended up staying on stage to perform his own low-key ‘All I Need to Hear‘ cover as the band played in the background. Surreal.
To be honest, it might just be the wholesomeness of it all, but we think we might prefer the older Healy’s version.
Sing it, Tim!
Tim on stage for ‘All I Need To Hear’ tonight in Newcastle #The1975
Imagine bringing your dad onto the stage only for him to absolutely steal the show. Brilliant stuff.
Both he and Matty’s celebrity mum Denise Welch have been spotted at various shows as the band continue to perform their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour around the country, with various fans interacting with them in the crowd, but very few would have been expecting an impromptu song from one of them.
Both are obviously more closely associated with TV, with Welch known for appearing on the likes of Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Loose Women and many more, but if we don’t up end up getting both of them on stage before this tour is over we’ll be genuinely fuming.
It also looks like the reaction meant a lot to him:
Thanks for all your kind messages after my surprise performance at Matty’s gig in Newcastle proud proud dad xxx pic.twitter.com/7izemLl9Id
Elsewhere in the show, The 1975’s Newcastle fans were treated to an equally ridiculous surprise appearance from Harry Styles. Well, not really…
In case you haven’t seen it already, the band conspired to prank the crowd by putting the former One Direction star’s name up on the screen, only to bring out Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi instead.
He obviously got just as lovely a reaction and fully leaned into bantering with the crowd — joking, “I know what you’re thinking: ‘Harry Styles‘ looks a bit different.'” — before performing a cover of ‘Antichrist’.