The Region and its People

The Trafford Centre is located approximately 9km to the west of Manchester city centre. Manchester is the principal city of the north west and the largest and most populous administrative district in the country.

Population and Catchment Area

Census-based predictions made for the year 2001 were as follows:

• 9.6% of the population of Great Britain (5.4 million people) lived within a 45 minute drive of The Trafford Centre.
• Within 15 minutes drive time the resident population was 0.81 million, increasing to 3.1 million within 30 minutes drive time of The Trafford Centre.

Drive Time Band Year 2001(Forcasts)
15 minutes 811,685
30 minutes 3,063,75
45 minutes 5,351,032
Source: - CACI

These figures are well in excess of the equivalent figures for any other centre of this type anywhere in the country.

The 45 minute isochrone is defined by Chester and Liverpool to the west, Preston and Burnley to the north, Bradford and Leeds outskirts to the north east, the Peak District to the east and the Potteries (Stoke-on-Trent) to the south.

Socio-Economic Profile

A socio-economic profile for the region was conducted which illustrates the type of workers, as a percentage, in the different drive-time bands from The Trafford Centre.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE REGIONALLY

DRIVE TIME

BANDS Professional/

Management % Non-Manual % Skilled Workers % Semi-Skilled Workers % Unskilled Workers %

15 MINS 31.2 24.0 20.7 15.5 6.4

30 MINS 29.2 22.8 22.4 16.9 6.2

45 MINS 28.9 22.3 22.5 17.2 6.4

GB Base ie % in GB 31.8 22.6 21.0 15.7 6.1

Source: CACI

In line with national averages, professional/managerial is the most predominant category across all three drive-time bands. A higher than average proportion of residents are non-manual workers.

The Immediate Locality

The site of The Trafford Centre consists of 300 acres in what is known as the Dumplington district of Trafford Park. It is bound by the M60 to the west, Trafford Park to the east and the Manchester Ship Canal to the north. The site is bisected by a further major highway from which access to the Centre and its adjacent regional sports complex is made. The shopping centre and the sports complex each take 61 hectares of the available land.

Trafford Park

Trafford Park was the world’s first dedicated industrial estate and it remains one of the largest. Its development began after the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 and it has been a major economic generator and zone of employment for the north west ever since. A period of decline in the post-war years was successfully arrested by the activities of the Trafford Park Development Corporation, which attracted new businesses and investment to the Park, sparking a major renaissance. The decision to site a development on the scale of The Trafford Centre within the boundaries of Trafford Park reflects this spirit of economic, commercial, industrial and social regeneration.

The site lies within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, whose Council and people have fully supported the development since its inception. The surrounding Trafford towns of Stretford, Davyhulme, Sale and Altrincham and the adjacent City of Salford provided a ready supply of manpower to fill the 6,000-plus job opportunities generated by The Trafford Centre, as well as the 3,000 jobs created during the construction phase.

Transportation Links

Access to the Centre is from the M60 Junctions 9 and 10 via an improved road link resulting from reconstruction of parts of Redclyffe Road and a new £3million slip road from the A5081, at Junction 9 completed in April 2004. Access to the M602 via Centenary Bridge, and other road improvements in Trafford Park leading to the Mancunian Way further enhance the accessibility of the Centre. Visiting and exiting the Centre has been made easier by the construction of a new exit at Junction 9.

A sophisticated message signs system has also been installed. The ‘prism message signs’ automatically manage traffic flow by changing information on the signs to maximise the free flow of traffic at junction 9 and on Parkway. Message systems vary during week days and weekends to suit peak and non peak trading times.

Prior to the Centre opening its owners and developers Peel Holdings invested £ 10 million into the road infrastructure surrounding the site and Trafford Park. The Centre’s management team constantly aims to work in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, Highways Agency and Urban Traffic Control to look at and improve traffic flow in and around the Centre.

The essential transportation elements required for a major shopping centre are excellent geographical location, strong access for private motor cars and bus station systems, and adequate free parking. All of these elements were carefully considered in the geographical design of The Trafford Centre.

Car Parking and Security

Approximately 10,000 free car parking spaces are provided, including areas dedicated for the sole use of people with disabilities and parents with children. Safety throughout the parking areas is a priority, with Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) monitoring, regular security patrols, a car breakdown service and a range of customer services.

Vehicle Management system

Traffic approaching the Centre from the motorway network is guided to and from parking areas by the most sophisticated computer – controlled variable message traffic management system.

Buses

Full provision is made for access by bus, with drop-off and pick-up points at locations around the site. The bus station has the capacity to deal with 120 buses per hour, with services running from around the region.

Coaches

Parking is available for up to 300 coaches.