Chester House Redevelopment – Learn more about the plans

Welcome to our updated vision for the redevelopment of Chester House

A New Vision for Trafford

Following our first round of public consultation in November 2025, we have been refining the plans for the redevelopment of Chester House – the former Greater Manchester Police headquarters – using the ideas and priorities you shared with us.

This project is being delivered through a joint venture between Far East Consortium, Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Together, we are committed to an open and collaborative approach, making sure local voices help shape every stage of the masterplan.

We are now entering the second phase of public consultation, which will help us finalise the masterplan before submitting a planning application to Trafford Council in the summer. If you would like to share your views on the updated proposals, please find details below on how to get involved.

Our plans for the redevelopment of Chester House

Our plans have altered since you last from heard from us – and the scheme has been shaped by the feedback from the local community across Trafford.

As such, our proposals now include:

Approximately 1,200 new homes, with 25% set aside for affordable housing
A mixture of housing tenure with apartments as well as spacious family houses with private gardens
Around 25,000 sq. ft of commercial space for shops, cafés and local businesses
A new hotel providing up to 255 rooms to welcome visitors
Over 700 cycle spaces available to the site’s residents and visitors
A linear public park for everyone to enjoy
Excellent walking, cycling and transport links to Manchester, Salford and beyond
Sustainability-led design, housing the Civic Quarter Heat Network for low-carbon heating

Our ambition was always to centre the designs of this new neighbourhood with the community in mind. We’re focusing on local priorities – health, wellbeing and placemaking – with plenty of green spaces, and strong links to local amenities and alleviating road traffic. It’s all about creating a place that complements the wider regeneration of Trafford and responding to community needs.

The Feedback That Shaped our Plans

One of the clearest messages we heard during the first stage of consultation was the need for better access to green spaces in Trafford. That feedback has shaped the masterplan from the very beginning.

Our updated proposals now feature a 124,000 sq. ft public park positioned at the centre of the development – a new outdoor space where people can relax and enjoy nature just a short walk from home.” To “Our updated proposals now feature a include 124,000 sq. ft of public green space featuring a public linear park where people can relax and enjoy nature just a short walk from home.

We recognise that traffic in the local area is already a challenge for residents, particularly on match days, and we are committed to ensuring this development does not add to those pressures.

The proposals therefore set out a predominantly car‑free neighbourhood, supported by more than 700 cycle parking spaces integrated throughout the site and centred around a cycle rental hub. This will be complemented by safe, well‑designed routes for walking and cycling, making sustainable travel the most convenient choice for residents and visitors alike.

Residents also told us that good health services and supportive infrastructure are essential to the success of the area. To ensure the new neighbourhood can meet these expectations, we’re working closely with the NHS to understand what health provision the community may need, both now and in the future.

The plans include flexible space that can accommodate facilities such as a GP surgery if required, giving the development the ability to grow and adapt as demand changes.

People told us they want to see vibrant local shops, cafés and services integrated into the development. To support this ambition, the masterplan includes around 25,000 sq. ft of commercial space, offering opportunities for independent businesses, healthcare facilities and community focused services to put down roots.

An untapped location

This land has been vacant since the relocation of the GMP HQ, and offers a unique opportunity to create new homes, jobs and green spaces for Trafford.

Located off Talbot Road, White City Way and Chester Road, this site already offers easy access to Trafford Bar tram stop, providing a 10-minute journey into Manchester city centre and excellent connections to Salford, Manchester Airport and surrounding areas.

There are plenty of bus stops nearby too, including on Talbot Road and Chester Road, offering services within Trafford to The Trafford Centre, Altrincham and Urmston, and further afield across Greater Manchester.

There are also many amenities within walking distance of the site including supermarkets, gyms, places to eat and drink, as well as White City Retail Park, Old Trafford football stadium and cricket ground, and Seymour Park.

Talbot Road (looking East)

Talbot Road (looking North)

Exhibition Walk

About the Site - Honouring Trafford’s heritage

The Chester House site is deeply connected to the rich history of Trafford, and preserving this heritage is at the heart of the development.

Through thoughtful design and conservation, this project will pay tribute to the site’s past while creating a new legacy for generations to come.

Ellis Llwyd Jones Hall

Once home to women studying deaf education at the University of Manchester, the Ellis Llwyd Jones Hall is a key heritage asset that will be sensitively restored and repurposed as a leisure space, as part of the new neighbourhood. The redevelopment will respect the building’s original character while integrating it into a modern, thriving community.

Historic Gateposts from the Former Blind School

The site also retains an important historical link to the former school for the blind, with its original gateposts standing as a symbol of Trafford’s past. These will be preserved within the new public realm, ensuring that history remains a visible and valued part of the future landscape.

Virtual Exhibition

A sustainable, healthy and people-centric community

This redevelopment is rooted in sustainable and community-centric design and will set a new standard for greener urban living across Trafford.

Net zero design

The redevelopment will be designed so that it produces zero carbon emissions once operational. Homes will be built to the highest quality using sustainable materials, with modern layouts and natural lighting throughout.

Green spaces

Green infrastructure is at the heart of the Chester House redevelopment. With public spaces, private gardens and green corridors that enhance biodiversity and promote well-being, our aim is to create a vibrant neighbourhood for everyone to enjoy.

Powered by clean energy

Key to this development will be the Civic Quarter Heat Network (CQHN), which will be housed on the site. The CQHN is a pioneering low-carbon energy system that supplies heat and power through insulated pipes, which will create cleaner, greener energy for the development’s residents.

Project timeline: building the future, step by step

What happens next?

March 2026

We hold our second public consultation with our updated and more detailed vision, reflecting feedback from the first consultation

April 2026

We review all your feedback to inform the final scheme design

Summer 2026

Our planning applications will be submitted to Trafford Council

Meet the partners behind the Chester House redevelopment

This project brings together three key partners, each bringing their own strengths in local leadership, regeneration and large-scale development. By working together, we’re aiming to create a new neighbourhood that really works for the community.

Trafford Council

Trafford Council is committed to regenerating the Civic Quarter and delivering high-quality homes and public spaces that meet the needs of local communities. With a strong focus on sustainability, heritage, and economic growth, the council plays a vital role in ensuring this redevelopment site aligns with Trafford’s long-term vision.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

As the strategic local government body for Greater Manchester, GMCA supports housing, infrastructure, and sustainable development initiatives that improve the region’s quality of life. Their involvement in the redevelopment of Chester House reflects their commitment to delivering innovative, future-ready communities in line with the city-region’s growth plans.

Far East Consortium (FEC)

A leading international property developer, FEC has a strong track record of delivering high-quality, mixed-use developments in the UK and beyond. With over 15,000 homes planned across Greater Manchester, FEC brings expertise in placemaking, sustainable design, and long-term community investment to the Chester House redevelopment.

Get involved with our consultation

We’re consulting again because we want to hear as many views as possible before we submit our planning application to Trafford Council.

If you have any questions or suggestions, we would be grateful if you could fill in the feedback form below.

Alternatively, why not come and tell us in person? If you can’t make it, the virtual exhibition further up this page provides more information about our plans.

Give us your feedback

Please come and meet the team at one of our in-person drop-in events, where you can see our proposals in more detail, ask us questions and tell us what you think.

Where:

Limelight, 1 St Brides Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester, M16 9NW

When:

18 November, 2pm-7:30pm

19 November, 2pm-7:30pm

Keep updated on progress, planning updates, and community engagement opportunities by following our latest news and developments.

Alternatively, if you have a question about our plans, find out more by: