Stretford Library is going to be relocated to Stretford Mall for the next few years.
As part of the plans, a scheme to develop other council -owned sites into new homes was also approved on Monday January 24.
Proposals to relocate the library to the inside of Stretford Mall and move Trafford Music Services, currently in the Claremont Centre in Sale, into the Stretford Library building on Kingsway, Stretford were agreed unanimously at the meeting.
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As part of the same vote, plans to develop the Claremont Centre site into new homes were also approved – subject to planning approval.
Money from that redevelopment is set to be used to support the above relocations and building improvements.
The future sale of new homes at the Claremont Road site could provide the council with profits to use in its future budgets too.
The wider plans also include moving Greater Manchester’s Mental Health at Home care teams from their current base at Chapel Road in Sale to a yet undecided new location.
The Chapel Road site would also be developed.
All the buildings mentioned are owned by the council.
The plan is for Stretford Library to remain in a currently vacant unit within Stretford Mall on a short to medium-term basis; between two and five years.
Across the Claremont Road and Chapel Road sites in Sale, there are proposals for eight one-bedroom flats, 10 two-bedroom apartments and eight four-bedroom town houses.
The council report into the plans said: “Stretford Library is currently located on Kingsway in a building dating back to 1940. The building is increasingly unfit for purpose due to damp issues in the basement and first floor and currently has a maintenance backlog in excess of £800k.
“Following the council’s 50pc acquisition of Stretford Mall and the joint venture with Bruntwood to manage and redevelop this building, it is proposed to relocate Stretford Library within Stretford Mall.
“This would initially provide the library with a short to medium term solution (2-5 years) in a currently vacant unit.
“The longer-term aim would be to incorporate a purpose-built library facility into the mall redevelopment as part of the Stretford Masterplan proposals.
“Two units within Stretford Mall have been identified as potentially suitable and the former Bon Marche unit at 37-38 The Mall selected as the preferred option.”
At the executive meeting last night, Coun James Wright, executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “This is a proposal at the very early stage of development and, in my view, an exciting proposition which covers many important bases for the administration.
“This proposal would provide a new location and better facilities to the Music Service, provide a central base for Stretford Library and that would inevitably mean more footfall. It would also relocate Greater Manchester Mental Health Service to a more fit-for-purpose building.
“We all understand the need for new housing in Trafford, and particularly the need for affordable homes in our town centres and the fact that this scheme would provide a financial return to the council can only be a positive outcome [in the context of austerity].”
