A construction company has been appointed to undertake Stretford’s King Street transformation. Caddick Construction will carry out the first phase of the town centre’s wider £50million master plan after being appointed by joint-venture partners Trafford council and property company Bruntwood.
Work begins today (June 5) and follows an extensive public consultation period which town hall bosses say ‘helped to understand how the transformation could redefine Stretford’s town centre to create more opportunities for residents and visitors’.
Phase one of the development will begin by reshaping Stretford’s 1960s shopping mall, including the removal of King Street’s roof to create an open-air high street and town square featuring upgraded units for retailers, eateries and bars to help boost the local evening economy.
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The refurbished stores will include new signage, new shopfronts and building facades and improvements to the building’s fabric to improve carbon efficiency. It is hoped the new-look high street will reinstate and revitalise King Street’s historic and vibrant retail culture and will look to attract independent businesses alongside national brands.
This work has already started on Chester Road, where Bruntwood and Trafford Council have introduced new shop fronts.
The plans also include Stretford’s new King Street Square - an open town square that will provide outdoor seating areas, spaces for market stalls and space to host community events.
Joint venture partners believe the square will become 'the beating heart of Stretford’s town centre for people to meet and dwell, take part in community activities and ultimately inspire its users to collaborate and socialise'.
The first stage of works will also include significant transformation to the existing multi-storey car park, including the ground floor where the space will be repurposed into flexible pop-up markets and a space for new businesses to test concepts and engage with the community. New surface parking and improved access will also be created to enhance flexibility and provide a more accessible and safer visitor experience.
The transformation of the multi-storey car park will also support the council’s ongoing work on Kingsway, which will improve pedestrian and cycle access to boost connectivity around Stretford Mall and the wider town.
The start of construction at King Street follows Bruntwood and Trafford council receiving planning approval for the town centre’s vision in October 2022. Preparatory works for the transformation of King Street have been completed, with phase one set to complete in autumn 2024.
With King Street’s construction now underway, plans for up to 800 new homes and substantial new green public open space are due to be submitted later this year.
Coun Liz Patel, Trafford council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “This work will transform Stretford Mall and create a vibrant and exciting King Street with a mix of local and national traders and businesses. We are committed to making our town centres incredible places for all to enjoy and this masterplan will be doing just that.
“These are hugely exciting times for Stretford and will make the town centre one of the places to be in Trafford. The new King Street Square is also a fabulous addition and will become a focal point for the whole community. I’m greatly looking forward to the work starting and cannot wait to see the finished article.”
Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood, said: “Injecting life back into the heart of Stretford and creating a positive community-led culture that allows both businesses and residents to thrive is at the heart of our transformation of King Street. Our ambitious plans will redefine the purpose and value of the high street to encourage collaboration and create an inspiring backdrop for Stretford and its communities."
Paul Dodsworth, managing director of Caddick Construction Group said: “This landmark scheme is set to leave a lasting impression on Stretford town centre and most importantly transform the lives of those in nearby communities."
The King Street transformation is one of the projects to receive funding from the Government’s £830m Future High Streets Fund (FHSF). The fund, launched by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2018, is designed to support and fund local areas’ plans to make their high streets and town centres fit for future purpose.
Last year, Trafford council received £17.6m funding to regenerate and transform Stretford town centre - one of only four areas of the North West to receive the full allocation.
The design team includes architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios in collaboration with Studio Mutt, Exterior Architecture, DW Consultants, Hydrock, Avison Young and Civic Engineers.
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