PP O’Connor has finished demolition of the vacant Greater Manchester Police headquarters, clearing a nine‑acre site off Boyer Street and White City Way for redevelopment by FEC, the developer said.
Plans for a mixed‑use neighbourhood
FEC’s proposals envisage roughly 1,250 new homes on the site, with 25% of the units set aside for affordable tenures. The wider scheme also includes a proposed linear park, a 250‑bed hotel, 700 cycle spaces and about 25,000 sq ft (approx. 2,323 sq m) of commercial floorspace.
The developer retained the Ellis Llwyd Jones Hall on the site for future community use while demolishing the former police building. 3DReid is listed as the scheme architect, with Re‑form advising on landscape matters and Asteer on planning. FEC has twice engaged in public consultation on the proposals — first in November 2025 and again in March 2026 — and expects to submit a detailed planning application this autumn.
Council support and stated aims
Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, Cllr Liz Patel, described the scheme as an important contribution to local housing delivery. She said:
“This is an exciting development which will result in the building of 1,250 new and affordable sustainable homes within Trafford. Trafford Council is committed to tackling the housing crisis by building more new and affordable homes on brownfield sites across the borough.”
FEC was appointed as the preferred development partner for the site three years ago and is working with Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to progress the project.
Developer comments and next steps
Ono Odudu, project director at FEC, said the completion of demolition was a key milestone in unlocking the site’s potential and that the partnership with local authorities created an opportunity to deliver a “sustainable new neighbourhood that responds to local housing needs while creating a lasting legacy for the wider community.” He added that the team looked forward to bringing forward a place that combined homes with public spaces, amenities and opportunities for both existing and future residents.
FEC’s design and planning team includes:
- 3DReid — scheme architect
- Re‑form — landscape advising
- Asteer — planning advising
What the scheme promises and questions ahead
The project promises a high density of new housing on a brownfield site and a mix of uses intended to create a neighbourhood rather than simply a housing estate. The commitment to 25% affordable homes will be closely watched by campaigners and local residents, who often scrutinise what qualifying criteria and tenures will constitute “affordable” in practice.
There are several practical milestones ahead: the formal planning application expected this autumn, detailed design approval, and delivery phasing. Timescales for construction and occupation were not disclosed in the developer’s statements.
For communities and local authorities, the redevelopment raises familiar issues — how the new neighbourhood will integrate with existing services and infrastructure, what contribution the commercial and hotel elements will make to local employment, and how green space provision will be managed and maintained.
| Element | Proposed |
|---|---|
| Homes | ~1,250 (25% affordable) |
| Hotel | 250 beds |
| Cycle parking | 700 spaces |
| Commercial space | 25,000 sq ft |
| Community asset retained | Ellis Llwyd Jones Hall |
The reuse of brownfield land to supply housing is a preference shared by many local authorities. Yet delivery depends on detailed planning permissions, funding, and market conditions — variables that will determine how soon the promises translate into completed homes and functioning public spaces.
As the site moves from clearance to planning and, eventually, construction, residents and stakeholders will be monitoring the detail of the affordable housing offer, the phasing of development, and the management of new public spaces.
Further updates are expected when FEC submits its planning application this autumn and as Trafford Council and GMCA assess the detailed proposals.
