New contractor set to deliver £18m Sale Magistrates’ court regeneration

Have you been wondering why no progress has been made to develop the site of the former Magistrates’ court in Sale – despite preparations "starting" late last year? Keep reading...

CGI image © IBI Group

Seddon Developments had been in line to redevelop the Washway Road site into homes, but we hear that Trafford Council is now going with a different contractor. 

Equans has been appointed to deliver the residential redevelopment of Sale Magistrates’ Court, a site the council acquired from Homes England for more than £4m in 2018. 

Designed by architect IBI Group, the scheme comprises 38 apartments across two blocks, 40 townhouses and six semi-detached properties. 

Work is due to begin this winter, according to Trafford Council. 

Seddon was appointed as preferred developer for the project in July 2020 and the public/private partnership lodged an application for the scheme the following year. 

The 84-home redevelopment of the former court site was approved, despite many objections, at a Trafford planning committee in March. 

Members of the council’s planning committee were underwhelmed by the scheme but the project was granted consent after a motion to refuse the plans was defeated.  

Several councillors expressed concerns that the project had insufficient parking provision and lacked green space. 

Cllr Dan Bunting was one critical voice, calling the scheme a “missed opportunity”.  

“There is a history of lacklustre developments proposed in Trafford. It is almost as if developers want to test what they can get away with,” Bunting said back in 2021.

The site has been vacant since 2016 after the Magistrates Court was closed by the Government as part of a national scheme to centralise services.  

So, will we finally see some progress on the site later this year? We'll certainly keep our eyes peeled.