Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter sees footfall jump following redevelopment
The 367,000 sq ft retail complex has reported a 6% increase in visitors from the previous year. A total of 8.4m customers visited the complex over the last 12 months.
The shopping centre was acquired by a joint venture between Bruntwood and Trafford Council in 2019. Since then, the centre’s retail, leisure, and workspace offers have grown substantially.
Subsequently, footfall in November rose 24% year-on-year, while October’s footfall was up 16.5% compared with the same month in 2023.
Stamford Quarter now has a total of 24 national operators, including Barclays, Boots, and Next, as well as a further 14 independent traders.
Bruntwood’s completion of the 75,000 sq ft Foundation, a £13.7m redevelopment of a former House of Fraser store, has also been a source of attraction after completing in March.
Starbucks, bowling brand Lane7, Yum Cha, and Nell’s Pizza have set up shop in Foundation’s 25,000 sq ft of retail space.
The remaining 50,000 sq ft is office space, with sports marketing group SPORTFIVE and video game start-up ForthStar moving in this year.
Foundation has contributed to workspace lettings of more than 23,000 sq ft in 2024, with a further 24,000 sq ft still to let.
The complex is wrapped in a HYVERY living wall, a collaboration with Chester-born brand I Want Plants, which has contributed to the scheme’s biodiversity net gain and reduced air pollution in the area, according to Bruntwood.
In total, Bruntwood leased more than 51,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space in Altrincham in 2024, reflecting a 12% increase on the previous year.
This year seven retail and leisure operators and three workspace customers moved into the Stamford Quarter, including Mountain Warehouse which leased 21,710 sq ft in September.
Earlier in the year, cosmetics label LOOKFANTASTIC signed a long-term lease for 5,400 sq ft of retail space at 21-23 George Street, the first physical store for the Prada-owned beauty brand.
LOOKFANTASTIC is the brand’s first and only physical store. Credit: via CityPress
Bruntwood and Trafford Council’s investment into the area has contributed to a 19% increase in average headline rates in the area due to a reduction in vacancy rates, according to the developer.
James Tootle, head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood, said: “It’s been a big year for the Stamford Quarter with our significant public realm works coming to an end, which has truly brought the area to life and created a space where the community want to spend time, either shopping, socialising or working.”
A £1.7m investment into the surrounding public realm was completed in August, which boosted the centre’s offer according to Bruntwood.
Tootle continued: “Our increased footfall figures and strong leasing stats are testament to the quality of what has been created here and we are looking forward to another year of growth and providing spaces for the people that live here that really deliver for them.”
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, added: “High streets across the UK are continuing to struggle so this is obviously a huge achievement.
“Working with Bruntwood, we aim to continue this growth in the New Year and make Altrincham even more of a success story going forward.”
The success of retail complexes in the area is not limited to Altrincham. Trafford Palazzo had a record year, announcing a 36% increase in lettings secured over 2024, totalling more than 81,500 sq ft.
Trafford Palazzo also announced a 7% year-on-year increase in footfall, which it reports as its best-ever result.
