A NEW book chronicling the journey to restore and redevelop Trafford’s Grade II listed town hall has been published.

Photographer and author Len Grant was given free access to the building, council staff, architects and builders before, during and after construction to tell the story of the transformation.

He said: “When the original town hall was built they kept lots of paper documents to mark its development but in this digital age of CAD drawings and e-mail there will be no dusty records for people to look back on.

“My aim was to create a permanent record but add a human level to the process of by telling it through the eyes of the people who were most closely involved.

“It was a delightful project to work on and the end result is a wonderful building which has transformed people’s attitudes and the way they work.”

The book’s title ‘All That Is Good’ is based on Trafford Borough Council’s motto ‘Prove all things: hold fast that which is good’ and the project was jointly funded by 5plus Architects and the contractors Shepherd Construction.

The new town hall which links the refurbished original to a new glass building has won a clutch of Awards including RIBA NW Regional Award 2014 and RIBA NW Sustainable Building of the year 2014.

5plus Director Paul Norbury added: “This was a large and complex project over two years and it is really lovely to be able to look back on the difference it has made, not just to the physical landscape but to people’s daily lives.

“It rings out in the voices in the book and Len has captured it perfectly. We are very grateful to Trafford Council and their staff for taking part and to everyone who contributed.”

Copies of the book will be available to read in the Town Hall reception area and to borrow from libraries across the borough. See lengrant.co.uk.