£70m development with spa, ice rink and ‘multiple outlets’ back on the cards

Altrincham’s £70million town centre development Altair – including an ice rink and multiple leisure outlets – which has stalled for more than a decade may yet move forward in the New Year.

Altair, Altrincham

Plans to transform 4.5-acre piece of land off Oakfield Road have been submitted to Trafford Council’s planners three times in recent years, but work has never started on the site that has been mainly used as a car park.

The rundown Altrincham leisure centre was to be replaced by a new spa-type facility and 15 new outlets including restaurants, coffee shops, bars, a convenience store and offices in addition to 150 new apartments and townhouses were part of the plan by developer Nikal.

However, I Love MCR understands that the specific plans for Altair have changed, although an ice rink is still part of the bid.

A source said: “Watch this space. The needs of Altrincham have changed during the last few years, and the emphasis now appears to be much more on residential development than retail and leisure.”

They said there were ‘contractual issues’ to sort out with the developer before new plans could brought forward in the new year and for work finally to start.

Altrincham Leisure Centre Refurbishment

Meanwhile, plans to refurbish Altrincham Leisure Centre at Oakfield Road are pushing ahead in the background after being approved a year ago.

A series of amendments to the original planning application have passed through Trafford planning portal in the last few months.

A report to the planning committee in 2022 said: “It has been recognised that Altrincham leisure centre, as with other council leisure centres, is in need of substantial investment and modernisation.

“This is in order to deliver enhanced leisure provision for Trafford residents as well as improving the centre’s accessibility, both internally and externally.”

The leisure centre would continue to provide a 25-metre swimming pool and a 20-metre learner pool along with a new ‘changing village’.

Other new ‘dry’ changing rooms are being provided at both ground and lower ground floor levels and there is to be an enlarged fitness suite, four-court sports hall, flexible studio spaces, an indoor cycle studio, a wellness assessment room and a new health and wellbeing spa.

The is also an enhanced lobby area with a cafe and viewing zone.