Civic Quarter AAP Consultation

Trafford Council has published its final draft of the Civic Quarter Area Action Plan (CQ AAP) for consultation, also known as the Regulation 19 or Publication consultation.

We sought your views and comments over a period of over 6 weeks between 20 January and 5 March 2021.

The main Regulation 19 consultation process has now closed. However, further consultation specifically on the subject of viability and the AAP’s approach to developer contributions is being carried out during June/July 2021. If you have any queries regarding this dedicated consultation, please email civicquarterplan@trafford.gov.uk.

The purpose of the CQ AAP is to guide development and positive change in this key growth location.

The AAP area comprises approximately 55 hectares at the heart of Trafford including Trafford Town Hall, the international sporting venue of Lancashire Cricket Club and the old B&Q site. The plans include new homes and offices, enhanced leisure facilities, new public realm including a processional route between Lancashire Cricket Club and Manchester United, and improved cycle and pedestrian connections.

Once adopted the CQ AAP will form part of the overall Trafford Development Plan and will be the statutory starting point in the determination of planning applications within the Civic Quarter.

The CQ AAP has been informed by national policy and legislation, extensive evidence gathering and technical assessment, ongoing liaison with statutory bodies and infrastructure providers, and feedback gained through two previous rounds of formal consultation.

This iteration represents the final version of the CQ AAP to be consulted upon before submission to the Secretary of State for independent review by a Planning Inspector at an Examination in Public.

The consultation is being conducted in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, and any representations made will be considered in accordance with Regulation 20 of the same legislation. Regulation 19 is a consultation which is more focussed on procedural matters and representations are invited only on the ‘soundness’ of the CQ AAP.

The soundness tests, which are set out at paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework, are that the CQ AAP is: positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy. There is a separate legal requirement for the CQ AAP to pass relating to the Duty to Cooperate.

Where can I view the information?

The documents undergoing formal consultation are:

  • The Civic Quarter Area Action Plan (Regulation 19 version); and
  • An accompanying updated Integrated Assessment which has assessed the impacts of the CQ AAP on a series of social, economic, environmental, health and equality objectives.

Consultation documents

  • The Area Action Plan
  • The Updated Integrated Assessment
    • Appendix A: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3
    • Appendix B
    • Appendix C
    • Appendix D

The following supporting evidence is also published alongside the CQ AAP:

  • Transport Assessment
  • Heritage Assessment
  • Townscape and Visual Assessment (plus Figures 1-19 and Figures 20-44)
  • Consultation Statement (Appendix A; Appendices B and C)
  • Viability Assessment
  • Drainage Report
  • Commercial Market Report
  • Infrastructure Cost Plan
  • Utility Assessment

Availability for those without internet access

We acknowledge that not all residents may have access to the internet.

Hard copies of the consultation documents and/or the online questionnaire can be provided on request by contacting Access Trafford on 0161 912 3149, or via the below email and/or postal addresses.

What happens next?

Following this consultation, minor amendments to the CQ AAP may be made and a Submission version of the document will be produced for the Secretary of State.

The date for the Examination is not yet known but is anticipated to be in late 2021. In submitting comments to this consultation we are required to notify you of the date when known.

The Council is expecting to adopt the CQ AAP in 2022 following, and dependent on, the Examination process.

If you have any queries about this consultation process, please use the email address or postal addresses provided above, or contact Access Trafford on 0161 912 3149. In view of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Council working practices, unfortunately it may take longer than usual to respond to enquiries and requests.

Privacy and data protection

All comments will be held by the Council and will be available to view publicly. Comments cannot be treated as confidential and we cannot register your comments without your details. Your personal information such as your postal and e-mail address will not be published, but your name and organisation (if relevant) will.

Trafford Council maintains a database of consultees who wish to be kept informed about strategic planning matters such as the Local Plan and AAPs. In responding to this consultation your contact details will automatically be added to the consultation database (if not already held). However, we will not automatically notify you of future consultations unless you ‘opt-in’.


Accessibility of content on this page

Some of the documents included on this page (such as PDFs) may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of any document in a more accessible format, please email us or call Access Trafford (0161 912 3149). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.