Equans to deliver £18m Sale Magistrates’ court regen  

Seddon Developments had been in line to redevelop the Washway Road site into homes, but Trafford Council is now pressing ahead with a different contractor. 

Equans has been appointed to deliver the residential redevelopment of Sale Magistrates’ Court, a site the council acquired from Homes England for more than £4m in 2018. 

Designed by architect IBI Group, the scheme comprises 38 apartments across two blocks, 40 townhouses, and six semi-detached properties. 

Work is due to begin this winter, according to Trafford Council. 

Seddon was appointed as preferred developer for the project in July 2020 and the public/private partnership lodged an application for the scheme the following year. 

The 84-home redevelopment of the former court site was approved, not without dissent, at Trafford’s planning committee in March. 

Members of the council’s planning committee were underwhelmed by the scheme but the project was granted consent after a motion to refuse the plans was defeated.  

Several councillors expressed concerns that the project had insufficient parking provision and lacked green space. 

Cllr Dan Bunting was especially critical, labelling the scheme a “missed opportunity”.  

“There is a history of lacklustre developments proposed in Trafford. It is almost as if developers want to test what they can get away with,” Bunting said.  

Under the proposals, the council has outlined the provision of 21 affordable units, comprising 13 apartments and eight houses.  

Avison Young advised on planning.