Trafford Park vision to transform area into creative hub

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1:00 am, June 16, 2008
Trafford Park vision to transform area into creative hub

By Simon Binns

Trafford Park could be transformed into a new hub for the professional and creative industries as part of a new masterplan being drawn up by the borough council.

The Trafford Economic Alliance, a partnership between Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and the private sector, has commissioned research and design consultancies to draw up a 20-year vision for 3,000 acres of land currently occupied by industry and warehousing.

Work will soon begin on an extensive survey of businesses in the area, to establish which industries remain strong and identify areas of growth.

The project is being managed by Manchester-based EkosGen, with the urban design contract awarded to Urbed. A strategy document is expected to be ready in early 2009, which will form the basis of a final masterplan. CB Richard Ellis will also be involved in drawing up the strategy.

Steve Potter, director at EkosGen, said the plan was to connect Trafford Park more effectively to the surrounding areas.

“Our remit is to come up with a vision for the whole of Trafford Park, which means the 3,000 acres that lie within the boundaries of Salford Quays, Old Trafford football ground and The Trafford Centre,” he said.

“It's one of the most important business locations in the region. It's been around for 100 years and had various uses, from docking to development corporations. What we need to do now is look at the types of businesses we might see in the next 10 to 20 years in the area and how we re-plan the infrastructure. We have to address what the business needs will be.”

Potential growth

Potter said that potential growth areas in Trafford are the financial and professional services and digital and new media, and part of the study will look at how Trafford Park could link up with Media City on Salford Quays. “Trafford Park could have a supporting role to play,” he said. “Being close to Trafford Wharf and the Quays could mean that the borough develops a high value in leisure. Trafford Park is such a big area that different parts could play different roles. The heart is still important to the manufacturing and industrial sectors and that will probably continue. But we need to look at what new skills we need to create and which are missing.”

The area under scrutiny is sandwiched between the Trafford Centre and Salford Quays, so Peel Holdings will have a key role, possibly as the private funder of a new Metrolink line through the borough. Potter said money from the Transport Innovation Fund was also important.

“We'll certainly be talking to Peel as well as other major landowners,” said Potter. “We don't want to create a plan in isolation. Any tram route linking up Manchester and the Trafford Centre would make Trafford Park more accessible, but any improvements in public transport that come from the Transport Innovation Fund can only be a good thing.”

Chris Wermann, director of corporate communications at Kellogg's, said that the initiative was a good thing and that the infrastructure of Trafford Park needed addressing. “Such a large amount of this area is dedicated to manufacturing, through companies like us, Unilever and United Biscuits, that transport links and moving freight from road to rail would be huge wins,” he said.

“In terms of trying to attract new industries, it's always healthy to have a mix and having a balanced portfolio is common sense. Looking at retail and regeneration through housing would be a good idea too, and we'd be happy to engage with any such study.”

COMMENTS? sbinns@crain.com