Cole Waterhouse makes £200m moves in Trafford
Plans have been lodged for 438 build-to-rent apartments, 419 student beds, and a 24,100 sq ft academic facility at the former Hilti headquarters in Stretford.
Cole Waterhouse said its proposals for the two-acre brownfield plot off Trafford Wharf Road represent a gross development value of £200m. The application submission follows a consultation last month.
Designs by Chapman Taylor call for two BTR towers of 21 storeys and 23 storeys. The purpose-built student accommodation would be spread across residential blocks that go from six storeys to 10.
Of the BTR flats, 20% would be designated as affordable and reserved for residents of Trafford.
The academic building would be for higher education and include offices, an on-site café, and various student amenities in addition to classrooms.
Due to the site’s proximity to public transport, there will only be a 10% on-site parking provision.
The design for Cole Waterhouse’s Trafford Wharf plans includes landscaped public realm. Credit: via Inform Communications
“This game-changing project would help to transform this well-known brownfield site into a thriving new community,” said Simon Gallanders, managing director of Cole Waterhouse’s residential division.
Gallanders also spoke about the need for PBSA.
“There has been significant growth in Manchester’s student population in recent years with estimates of a shortfall of up to 4,000 student beds,” he said.
“Trafford Wharf is well located with highly sustainable transport links to the education campuses in Salford and Manchester,” Gallanders continued.
“It is the perfect location to provide top-of-the-range student accommodation to help meet that need and we believe our plans will make a significant contribution to the continued regeneration of the wider area.”
Cole Waterhouse estimated that its plans would create more than 1,300 jobs during its construction and nearly 300 once in operation. The scheme is set to make £1.6m in Section 106 contributions.
The developer acquired the former Hilti HQ in April for an undisclosed amount. As a condition for the sale, Hilti is the joint applicant on the scheme but will cease to be involved once planning permission is won.
Paul Butler Associates is the planner for the project, with TSA Riley as the project manager.
The project team also includes quantity surveyor and cost consultant Russell Bolton Consulting, structural engineer XO Square, M&E engineer Watt Energy & Consulting Engineers, and sunlight consultant Proximity. The landscape architect is Re-form.
The application had not yet appeared on Trafford Council’s planning portal as of the time of publication.
