INNOVATIVE plans to regenerate the Shrewsbury Street area of Old Trafford have approved by Trafford planning chiefs.

The £18m redevelopment forms part of the Old Trafford Masterplan, an initiative which is being delivered jointly by the council and the Trafford Housing Trust (THT) and will see more than three acres of land transformed by new, multi-purpose facilities.

The new Shrewsbury Street community ‘hub’ will feature a café, pharmacy, public library, multi-function activity hall, day nursery, Sure Start service, Credit Union office and sports changing rooms.

THT is also working with community to develop a variety of social enterprise options as part of the overall scheme.

Matthew Gardiner, chief executive of THT, said: “Now we have planning permission we can begin the transformation of Shrewsbury Street in earnest and fulfil the trust’s vision to create an amazing, innovative and multi-purpose development which puts local people first.

"As part of the wider Masterplan, it will help us to meet the current and future needs of all local residents, acting as a catalyst for positive change and social good across Old Trafford.”

The plans also include a number of ‘extra care’ apartments and facilities which will provide older and more vulnerable people with the opportunity to live independently in high-specification accommodation.

The existing Shrewsbury Street community centre and library will make way for the new development, as will the adjacent St Brides Church.

However, the church will be completely re-built as a place of worship as part of the scheme.

The site will also incorporate land previously occupied by the Isobel Baillie lodge, a disused sheltered housing scheme which was demolished earlier this year.

The architectural elements have been designed to complement the existing stock on Shrewsbury Street and the development will also feature pathways, landscaped areas, communal gardens and informal seating areas with the aim to make Shrewsbury Street a 'great place to meet'.

Council leader, Sean Anstee, said: “This is a really exciting time for the trust and the council and this is a great example of partnership working.

"The Shrewsbury Street scheme is a chance for public service organisations to demonstrate that they really understand the principle that communities know how to run services in their neighbourhoods.”

Demolition work is due to begin in November 2014, with development beginning on the site in January 2015.

The scheduled completion date for the scheme is spring 2017.