New housing development could soon be approved at former Old Trafford hospital

Proposals for the transformation of the former Stretford Memorial Hospital and grounds off Seymour Grove in Old Trafford are to go before Trafford Council’s planning committee on 9th July with an officer’s recommendation to approve.

The proposals, from Promenade Estates, would see 29 new houses and 6 apartments developed on the 2.5 acre site and include the refurbishment of the historic Basford House – once the home of cotton baron Henry Beecroft Jackson, and the later birthplace of Bee Gee Andy Gibb and Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.

The site was acquired in October 2022 from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, since when consents have been secured for the demolition of unsympathetic extensions and for conservation work to secure Basford House, which was in a dangerous condition.

“This has been a collaborative effort with the local authority’s planning and conservation teams, and I am pleased that it will shortly be before the committee for deliberation,” said Daniel Hynd, managing director of Promenade Estates.

“We’ve been able to make Basford House safe whilst working up our wider proposals and will continue to work with the council’s heritage team during construction, should consent be granted, when more elements become accessible for inspection.  We want the development to be an exemplar for our ‘brownfield first’ strategy, and our desire to deliver high quality homes.”

The scheme, facing Seymour Grove in Old Trafford, proposes a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, with 6 bespoke apartments in Basford House.  106 cycle storage spaces would be provided, along with 66 car parking spaces.

The development follows a landscape-led approach with significant areas of public realm and a design that allows an unhindered view of Basford House from Seymour Grove.

The scheme’s materials palette draws on the local vernacular, with feature brick detailing, recessed windows and doors and feature gables to the front elevations.

Should consent be granted, the construction phase of the development is anticipated to cost in the region of £15m, with a forecast start on site of September 2026.

Promenade are working in partnership with Brack Construction for the delivery of the scheme and are already in talks with a purchaser.

Commenting on the appointment, Edward Brack said:

“Both the refurbishment and new-build elements of this project will require our skilled craftsmen to do the proposals justice, and I am looking forward to hearing of the committee’s ruling.”

The scheme has been designed by Buttress Architects, assisted by LDA Design (landscape), Cre8 Land and Planning (planning), Steven Levrant Heritage Architect (heritage), Tetra Tech (QS), Mode Transport Planning and Adept (structures).

Basford House was constructed for Manchester cotton baron Henry Beecroft Jackson in 1860 and served as a staging hospital during World War I, then a maternity hospital, before its latter use to provide geriatric care.

It closed in 2015, with services transferred to nearby Trafford General Hospital.

Promenade Estates built its reputation on the sensitive restoration of listed buildings, such as Liverpool’s Grade II* art deco former airport terminal and the Alfred Waterhouse designed former Pearl Assurance headquarters building in Liverpool.