Trafford Council are set to purchase a vacant building and transform it into student flats – in a move which will support the exciting plans for the University Academy ’92 in the area. The Charlton House site, which has been earmarked by the council, will help support the wider university which will focus around the former Kellogg’s site opposite the Cricket Ground at Old Trafford.

We’ll be hearing from Lancaster University who are integral to the project at the North West Universities Development Plans Conference as well as Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The building, which is currently vacant, is set over eight-stories – and the building would be retained and redeveloped as part of the plans. The building would be converted to house around 140-beds whilst a neighbouring plot could also be built on to provide further student flats. JLL have been appointed to negotiate a price for the building, although it’s likely the council would issue a compulsory purchase order to buy the site if an agreement isn’t met.

Any new-build would then be part of a second-phase of development as the area forms a ‘gateway site’, with a possibility of any new building having further floors than the current Charlton House building with the council saying that ‘higher density and taller buildings may be appropriate’ for the site.

A planning application for the first stage is expected to be brought forward in the next few months as they look to be open ready for the 2019/2020 student year.

To hear more about University Estate plans join us at the North West Universities Development Plans Conference in Manchester on the 21st March.