Peel Land & Property appointed us to provide economic and social analysis in relation to the Trafford Waters planning application. The proposed £1 billion development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal near Intu Trafford Centre includes designs for 3,000 apartments and 875,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The proposals include large apartments suitable for families and a mix of small-scale retail, leisure and community uses as well as offices alongside the residential element.
The Trafford Waters site, which covers 23 hectares, is the last remaining green-field site in the Trafford Centre Rectangle (TCR) and due to its strategic location adjacent to The Trafford Centre and Manchester Ship Canal, offers the opportunity for a high quality ‘waterfront node’ to add to Castlefield, St George’s Island, Pomona, Salford Quays, Media City and Wharfside, as well as helping to drive the regeneration of North Trafford.
We provided the Scoping Report and ES Socio-Economic Effects chapter as part of the EIA process. A particular emphasis was given to the additionality of anticipated economic impacts during both the construction and operational phases of such a large scheme, together with the social effects arising from a substantial increase in residential population as a result of the proposed residential development. The latter included capacity assessments with regard to health facilities, primary and secondary schools and public open / play space provision. In addition, the cumulative effects of the proposed scheme were assessed in conjunction with a range of other nearby consented development schemes.