The Changing Face of Trafford: Environment

The ‘Greater Manchester Votes’ assessment identified that the Greater Manchester Area was short of country parks and open spaces in towns.[i]

The construction of a motorway through the Mersey valley left a large pit that was used to extract gravel for raising the new road above the Mersey’s flood plain. This pit was flooded in the 1970s to form a lake which became the centre of Sale Water Park, owned by Trafford Council, in a 152-acre country park,[ii] opened in 1979. A wetland has been created in the park which attracts much birdlife, and the park has a water sports centre and is now served by a Metrolink station.

Climate change has increased the chances of flooding in the low-lying areas of Trafford. The final report of the Greater Manchester Strategic Flood Management Strategy concluded in 2019, that river flooding is a serious risk in Trafford.[iii]

There are risks in Trafford from the River Mersey and Sinderland, Timperley and Fairywell Brooks. An earlier report identified that potential risks exist from breaches or over-topping of the canals – especially the significant risk from the Ship Canal in the Trafford Core Area - Wharfside, Pomona Island, the Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Old Trafford and Partington and Carrington.[iv]

he River Bollin at the border with East Cheshire is also prone to flooding on the A56 and through the valley to Dunham Park. Added to this is the potential for surface water flooding from increasing average rainfall and increased intensity of storms in parts of Trafford.

Amongst the measures put in place for flood plain mitigation – development of flood storage areas such as Sale Ees and the Salisbury Road playing fields in Timperley. Flooding has implications for future developments. In Trafford both the proposed Carrington development and the Timperley Wedge are in areas threatened by flooding.[v]

Trafford Council has produced a Carbon Neutral Action Plan in December 2020 and revised it in 2023. This covers:

• Waste reduction - food waste and materials.
• Transport and Travel - Reduction of levels of NO², the rolling out of EV charging points, improving public transport.
• Heat and Energy – encouraging decentralised low carbon energy production, reducing fuel and energy poverty.
• Improving the natural environment; Supporting the growth of green technology and encouraging the provision of carbon neutral homes, workplaces etc.[vi]

The Future in Trafford - Planned development 2024 and beyond

Places for Everyone

‘Places for the future’, a plan for development has been produced by Greater Manchester for all of its districts except Stockport as a long-term strategy for jobs, new homes and a sustainable future. All nine councils have adopted the plan, and it became a statutory development plan in March 2024.

It looks at the protection of unplanned development on Green Belt land and the use, where possible of brown field sites as first choice for future development. It should also ensure that all the councils that have signed up will integrate transport and infrastructure projects.[vii]

Main Town Centres

Two paragraphs from ‘Places for the Everyone’, formally adopted in April 2024, illustrate the hopes for the towns of Trafford:

‘Changes in the retail market and the way that both public and private services are delivered have placed pressures on town centres, for example resulting in the closure of some shops including historic ‘anchor’ stores. The main town centres will need to adapt and respond to changing circumstances if they are to continue to flourish and successfully meet the needs of surrounding communities. The long-standing retail, leisure, cultural and community functions will remain central, but the way they are provided is likely to evolve. Businesses, service providers, community groups and other actors working together in partnership can enhance both the local economy and the popularity of centres. The Mayor's Town Centre Challenge is positively promoting our town centres' evolution.

Expanding the resident population of the main town centres will become increasingly important, helping to generate the necessary footfall and vibrancy to sustain facilities and enhance the attractiveness of the centres. Increasing the numbers of residents in town centres will also enable more people to take advantage of their transport connections and for brown field land opportunities. This residential market is quite poorly developed in most of the centres at present, but the potential in each is significant. The main town centres offer the opportunity to provide a more affordable alternative to the City Centre, both for businesses to locate and skilled workers to live, whilst providing excellent access to services and facilities. The public transport corridors into the main town centres will also have an important function, especially as a location for new housing, further increasing the number of people with easy access to town centre facilities by sustainable modes of transport.’ [viii]

The Plan identifies New Carrington (approximately 5,000 dwellings) for which a master plan is being developed in early 2024, and the Timperley Wedge, with a master plan begun, as strategic allocations for Green Belt development within Trafford.[ix]

New Carrington

The section on industry has already covered some aspects of the proposed large development on the former Shell site at Carrington. The hope is to bring Carrington into being a sustainable neighbourhood inside Greater Manchester, rather than being an isolated outsider. It is projected to provide around 5,000 new homes and 350,000 sq. m. of floor space for employment.

‘New Carrington provides a significant opportunity in this part of Greater Manchester to deliver a transformational mixed-use development. This location in the western part of Trafford enables the redevelopment of the extensive former Shell Carrington industrial estate, support the regeneration of neighbouring Partington and Sale West. It will deliver the scale and mix of development and associated infrastructure necessary to ensure the development is sustainable and delivers inclusive growth. The release of some Green Belt land is required to achieve these objectives.’ [x]

Timperley Wedge

The Timperley Wedge is the name being used for the area of land, partially green belt, that lies between Timperley and Manchester Airport. Its development is also linked to a Health and Life Sciences development, ‘MediPark’, at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester City Council’s orbit. It will provide approximately 2,500 homes in total and 60,000 sq.m. of office employment floorspace. It will provide a minimum of 45% affordable housing throughout the site. A new local centre comprising a range of shops and services to meet local needs will be delivered, along with a new primary school. The plan includes a proposed rural park, which will be retained within the green belt. The Metrolink will be extended through the site and the whole project is claimed to be environmentally driven.[xi]

Other Development Sites within Trafford 

Trafford Wharfside

In 2024, a consultation process has been implemented for the development of Trafford Wharfside and a masterplan will be drawn up in due course. This is an area on the south bank of the Ship Canal that currently encompasses international visitor destinations at Manchester United’s complex, the Imperial War Museum North and the Coronation Street Experience, along with ITV’s studios.  It also houses a fast-growing cluster of digital and creative companies and hotels such as the Victoria Warehouse and Hotel Football. It has the potential for residential development in addition to providing a pleasant, landscaped environment to enhance the Ship Canal. It will need to coincide with Manchester United’s vision for the land that they own within the designated area. The development should result in increased employment opportunities in skilled work.[xii]

The Civic Quarter, Old Trafford

Trafford Council has developed an action plan to guide its work in upgrading the area which it has designated as the Civic Quarter.

This area is bound by Chester Road to the north-west and north-east, Great Stone Road to the south-west and Elsinore Road to the south-east. It includes the Lancashire Cricket Ground, Stretford Town Hall, the northern campus of Trafford College, the UA 92 Academy in the former Kellog’s site, Stretford Leisure Centre, White City Retail Park, and the approaches from the Metrolink to Manchester United’s stadium.

Trafford Council see it as a catalyst for regeneration in the wider Old Trafford Area. It is well served by transport links including two Metrolink stations at Old Trafford and Trafford Bar and frequent bus services.

Historically this area was the home of the Royal Botanical Gardens and two large national exhibitions – the Art Treasures in 1857 and Royal Jubilee Exhibition in 1887.

In recent years a large Tesco Superstore has been constructed along the Chester Road.

The Action plan identifies the creation of a high-quality public realm, enhancement of the heritage assets and creating a growing community amongst its targets.[xiii] 

Empress Conservation Area, Old Trafford

 The area around the former Empress Mill in Old Trafford was designated as a conservation area by Trafford Council in 1995. This area has deteriorated since that designation and has been identified as under threat. The council started a consultation process in March 2024 to see how people would like the area to be developed.

The Empress Conservation Area contains buildings of significant historic and architectural importance. ‘Its surviving elements tell the story of Old Trafford’s industrial development: workers’ terraces mix in with industrial buildings that sprang up to take advantage of the growing canal network and docks.’

In addition to the Empress Mill there are three main industrial premises with interesting architectural features along the Chester Road - the Essence building, the Veno Works and the Trafford Press. Several regeneration projects within the designated area have been started in the past but have stalled before completion. There is also the potential for new development of housing within the area.[xiv]

Development of Pomona Island

Pomona Island is situated between the Ship Canal and the Bridgewater Canal. It was the site of Pomona Docks which formed a substantial part of Manchester Docks and in 2024 is almost entirely derelict brownfield land. Most of the former docks have been filled in.

Some development of apartments has already taken place at the extreme north-east and south-west ends of the island. Approval was given in March 2024 by Trafford Council to Peel Waters for one hundred and fifty-nine apartments to be constructed.[xv] This development constitutes part of a masterplan agreed in 2020 with Trafford Council to regenerate the island with 2,700 homes, commercial buildings, a large public park and a network of paths and cycleways.[xvi]

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a great deal has changed over the fifty years since Trafford was established in 1974. Not everyone likes change, but it is inevitable, and often necessary to tackle serious problems such as global warming. Winston Churchill’s words, “To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often.”,[xvii] reflect the borough’s approach over this period of its history. In 2024 plans and strategies are in place and underway to ensure continual development and improvement for the residents of Trafford.

Article researched and written by Trafford Local Studies volunteer Richard Nelson.

[i] Clark, David, M, ‘Greater Manchester Votes: a guide to the new metropolitan authorities’, Redrose, Mar 1973. Trafford Local Studies, 6698098.

[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_Water_Park [Accessed 9 Apr 2024].

[iii] https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMCAFiles/PFE/Supporting%20documents/04%20Sustainable%20and%20Resilient%20Places/04.02.17%20GM%20Flood%20Risk%20Management%20Framework.pdf.[Accessed 9 Apr 2024].

[iv] https://www.traffo Places For Everyone Joint Development Plan Document for Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, 2022 to 2039. Adopted 21 March 2024. https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/media/9578/places-for-everyone-joint-development-plan-document.pdf  Plan adopted.  [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[v] https://Trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/strategic-flood-risk-assessment.aspx 2011 [Accessed 9 Apr 2024].

[vi] https://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/environment/climate-change/Reducing-our-emissions.aspx [Accessed 11 Apr 2024] and https://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/Climate-Change.aspx [Accessed 11 Apr 2024].

[vii] Places for Everyone Website, https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning-and-housing/places-for-everyone/ [Accessed 21 Apr 2024].

[viii] Places For Everyone Joint Development Plan Document for Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, 2022 to 2039. Adopted 21 March 2024. https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/media/9578/places-for-everyone-joint-development-plan-document.pdf  Plan adopted [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[ix] Places for Everyone, a Greater Manchester Plan, https://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/Development-Plan/Places-for-Everyone.aspx [Accessed 6 Apr 2024].

¹³² Places For Everyone Joint Development Plan Document for Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, 2022 to 2039. Adopted 21 March 2024. [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[xi] Places For Everyone Joint Development Plan Document for Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, 2022 to 2039. Adopted 21 March 2024. [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/media/9578/places-for-everyone-joint-development-plan-document.pdf  Plan adopted 21 March 2024 [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[xii] Trafford Wharfside Development Framework https://trafford.citizenspace.com/place/wharfside-framework-consultation/supporting_documents/TWDF%20Final.pdf [Accessed 10 Apr 2024]

[xiii] Civic Quarter Area Action Plan, 2023 https://pdf.browsealoud.com/PDFViewer/_Desktop/viewer.aspx?file=https://pdf.browsealoud.com/StreamingProxy.ashx?url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/CQAAP/docs/Post-Adoption/Civic-Quarter-Area-Action-Plan-January-2023.pdf&opts=www.trafford.gov.uk#langidsrc=en-gb&locale=en-gb&dom=www.trafford.gov.uk. [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[xiv] Announcement of consultation on the Empress Conservation Area, Mar 2024 https://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/news/articles/2024/20242003-Trafford-Council-consults-over-regeneration-plan-for-Empress-Conservation-Area.aspx [Accessed 10 Apr 2024].

[xv] https://www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk/market_leads/trafford-council-approves-peel-plan-for-pomona/

 [Accessed 17 Apr 2024].

[xvi] https://www.peelwaters.co.uk/news/peel-lp-unveils-green-vision-for-the-redevelopment-of-pomona-island-in-trafford/

 [Accessed 17 Apr 2024].

[xvii] Winston Churchill (June 23, 1925), His complete speeches, 1897–1963, edited by Robert Rhodes James, Chelsea House ed., vol. 4 (1922–1928), p. 3706.