The challenge
Creating a new high-density mixed use neighbourhood by regenerating vacant land on the south bank of Manchester Ship Canal.
The solution
Our plan comprised of 3,000 new homes, 750,000 sq ft of commercial floor space, over 100,000 sq ft of amenities, retail, leisure, and a school.
The impact
This regeneration is estimated to create 5000+ jobs and be a significant boost to the local economy.
3,000
new homes
1 million sq ft
new commercial space
The challenge
Peel Land & Property’s (PL&P) ambition was to create a new high-density mixed use neighbourhood by regenerating a 26ha of vacant land on the south bank of Manchester Ship Canal.
The site enjoys easy access to a range of surrounding ‘city scale’ amenities including one of Europe’s largest employment areas at Trafford Park, an array of leisure facilities including Trafford Leisure Village and the AJ Bell Stadium, and the principal regional retail and leisure offer at the adjacent Trafford Centre.
The solution
PL&P engaged with Arcadis to master plan Trafford Waters comprising 3,000 new homes, 750,000 sq ft of commercial floor space, over 100,000 sq ft of amenities, retail, leisure, and a school.
Our master plan capitalises on the proximity to the historic canals and creates a series of linked waterbodies within the development that provide separation between employment and residential areas. This use of water is a defining feature of the development, which alongside a high-quality landscaped environment creates a strong identity for the community.
The development is based on healthy urban design principles and a sustainable high-quality public transport offer, in part enabled by the proposed density (175 unit/ha); with the potential to reduce private car use and become a more sustainable neighbourhood.
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The project’s success owed much to the careful promotion of the development concept through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including Trafford MBC, Salford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.
This included facilitating technical workshop sessions with Council Officers; design review presentation to regional design panel Places Matter!; BREEAM Communities design review; and engagement with English Heritage.
Following outline planning consent, our architects continued to work with PL&P to deliver two first phase plots and the development of a site wide design code. We applied parametric design tools across 27 buildings to achieve an optimal mix of apartment types across the site helping to inform decisions such as building height and composition.
The impact
This award winning project (Use of Digital Technology in Planning; Planning Awards 2023) will create a new offer in the region's housing market – urban family living linked to employment, amenity, space and an environmental quality not available in city centres. Estimated to create 5000+ jobs, it will be a significant boost to the local economy.
