Trafford Council are about to give the green light on an updated masterplan for Stretford – which includes a new university and student accommodation alongside office space, 184-bed hotel and 154 apartments. Consultation, with around 1,500 respondents, has been ongoing since October. The University will be central to the masterplan which would specialise in sports, media and business.

We’re delighted to be in Manchester in March for the North West Universities Development Plans Conference, and with the new university set to be a branch of one of our speakers – Lancaster University – it’s likely to form part of the discussions and presentations.

The University is the brainchild of ‘The Class of 92’ including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville, and that links to additional plans to include three new sport pitches at Turn Moss, which is positioned next to a Salford City FC’s proposed training ground). The University is set to be the first of its kind in England, offering sports, media and business courses to students – which include internships with the likes of Microsoft and other companies.

Gary Neville said of the ambitious project: ”I’ve always believed success is down to more than just having talent and good luck. There is no limit to what can be achieved with the correct preparation. Our aim is that University students will ofcourse leave with an academic qualification, but also a range of skills such as how to deal with pressure, understand finance, leadership, presentational skills and also how to maintain a healthy body and mind. In other words the complete package to success in the workplace.”

The Council has said that the final masterplan for the area should be completed by the middle of this year.

Join us to hear more about University estate, property and facilities plans at the North West Universities Development Plans Conference.