Our proposals for Trafford Wharf

Welcome

Cole Waterhouse is bringing forward proposals for the development of a new, mixed-use development at the former Hilti HQ site on Trafford Wharf Road.

The proposals will deliver:

  • 419 Purpose Built Student Accommodation units
  • 438 Build to Rent apartments, including affordable homes
  • A new education facility, with teaching spaces, offices and an on-site cafe
  • New ground-floor commercial units
  • A multi-million-pound investment on a brownfield site
  • Hundreds of new jobs during construction, operation and across the supply chain

Offering a mix of PBSA and BTR apartments, the development will cater to a variety of residents at all stages of life, from students and young professionals to downsizers and families.

The plans represent a multi-million-pound investment into Trafford and would transform an ideally located brownfield site, which sits immediately adjacent the Trafford Wharf tram stop, within walking & cycling distance to local amenities in Salford Quays and beyond.

The plans are at a very early stage. Cole Waterhouse wants to hear from local residents, to understand your ambitions for the site and to gather feedback on the proposals before determination by Trafford Council’s Planning and Development Management Committee.

To ensure local residents can have their say, we are hosting this virtual consultation from Friday 20 September to Friday 4 October 2024. You can respond to our proposals using the feedback form provided on this website.

Our Proposals

Cole Waterhouse is bringing forward proposals for the development of a new, mixed-use development at the former Hilti HQ site on Trafford Wharf Road.

There is a strong and sustained demand for BTR development in Greater Manchester, with BTR homes representing more than 20% of the total built PRS stock across Manchester/Salford. Meanwhile, the student population in Greater Manchester has grown significantly over recent years, with an estimated 120,000 students now studying across the county. This development will bring a mix of BTR and PBSA homes to the market, meeting the growing demand and ensuring the quality of new homes in Trafford remains consistently high.

The apartments would be suitable for all audiences, from young professionals, to families, to those looking to downsize. An allocation of affordable apartments would also be included within the building.

Cole Waterhouse’s proposals represent a multi-million-pound investment into a brownfield site that has become tired and underutilised throughout the years. This development would transform the site and its immediate surroundings, creating a new, modern development and public open space around the site.

Residents of the development would also enjoy several amenities throughout the site, including a mix of public and semi-private ‘collegiate’ space. Ground floor commercial units, enhancements to public open space and new tree planting across the site would create an environmentally and socially conscious residential development.

The new development would also create hundreds of new jobs, once operational, during construction and throughout the supply chain.

The need for new homes in Trafford

Trafford Council has historically missed its housing delivery and land supply targets, with Places for Everyone noting an “acute affordable housing need in Trafford”.

The plan recognises the need for Trafford to increase its housing land supply in order to address a housing crisis in the borough.

Manchester’s student population has grown significantly over recent years, with an estimated 120,000 students how studying in Greater Manchester. In turn, the student housing situation in Greater Manchester has been described as a crisis, With approximately 3,000 more students than student beds in the city.

Cole Waterhouse’s proposals represent the opportunity for high-density development to help address Trafford’s housing needs, as well as delivering student accommodation in an existing commercial area, reducing the need for HMO conversions in more suburban areas of Greater Manchester.

Investment and Jobs

The proposals represent a multi-million-pound contribution to the local economy, through the creation of new jobs during construction, operation and across the supply chain.

By providing much-needed. high-quality homes, the development will attract people to the area and support further local spending and economic growth.

It is estimated that the proposals will support a total of 1,368 FTE jobs, directly within the construction sector and across the wider economy. It is anticipated that a proportion of these roles will be filled by residents from within the local area.

Our plans include

419 much-needed student beds, a walking distance from Salford University’s MediaCity Campus

A professionally managed Build to Rent development, including 438 apartments for Trafford residents

A multi-million-pound investment into Trafford, supporting the local economy with an £8.5m net additional expenditure from new residents

Enhancement to the wider site and new public open space with over 20% Biodiversity Net Gain

Regeneration of an ideally placed brownfield site

New commercial units at the ground floor of the building

Hundreds of new jobs during operation, construction and throughout the supply chain

Planting of more than 100 new trees

Click here to view our proposals

Site Plan

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Have your say

Consultation will close on Friday 4 October.

Contact us

Alternately, if you have any other questions, or would like to request hard copies of any of the materials shown on this website, please contact the project team via the following messages:

Freephone information line: 0800 066 8941

Email: north@consultation-online.co.uk

About Cole Waterhouse

Cole Waterhouse is a Manchester-based property development, investment, and asset management company specialising in delivering innovative medium to large mixed-use regeneration schemes. The company operates in major urban centres such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, focusing on medium to large mixed-use residential regeneration and student schemes.

Their principal objective is to create buildings that are infused with high-quality design for people to enjoy and which enhance the surrounding environment and community. They are committed to ensuring ESG is an integral part of their approach to all projects from concept to completion. 

Cole Waterhouse is also the developer behind the adjacent No 1 Old Trafford building, which comprises 354 apartments and represents the first trailblazer residential development in this part of the city.

The company’s Eda development has also been crowned Insider’s BTR development of 2024 and consistently tops HomeView’s national and regional rankings.

About Us: colewaterhouse.co.uk/about/