Greater Manchester’s Trafford Council has selected Graham to deliver the long-anticipated housing-led redevelopment of Stretford Mall, marking a significant step forward in the transformation of the town centre.
The contractor beat competition from Domis, GMI Construction Group and HG Construction to secure the first major build-to-rent phase for the Bruntwood–Trafford joint venture, known as Plot 2A. The £60m contract positions Graham strongly for further work within a wider £175m development pipeline, which includes two additional plots yet to be procured.
Plot 2A will deliver a 249-apartment build-to-rent scheme alongside 200 sq m of ground-floor commercial space, forming a central component of the wider regeneration vision. The project involves partial demolition of the existing 1960s shopping centre to make way for a 10-storey residential block arranged around a landscaped courtyard.
Graham will initially operate under a pre-construction services agreement, allowing it to finalise the design and agree the contract sum before progressing to a full construction contract. Trafford Council has indicated that a further £115m of work could follow, including Plot 2B valued at £45m and the larger Plot 1 at £70m, with future awards linked to delivery performance on the initial phase.
Construction is expected to take just over three years once the main contract is signed, with completion targeted for 2029. The broader Stretford Mall masterplan will ultimately provide around 800 homes, alongside new public realm and retail space, representing the most significant overhaul of the town centre in decades.
The residential block for Plot 2A, designed by AHR Architects, will be arranged around a central landscaped park, creating a defined community space within the development.
This phase follows the completion of King Street, a key early element of the regeneration which saw the removal of part of the mall’s roof and the refurbishment of approximately 86,000 sq ft of retail space to create a reconfigured high street environment.
