RESIDENTS are being asked to take part in a public vote to name a new £20m development scheme in the heart of Old Trafford.

The multi-purpose building, including extra care and community facilities, which is currently being developed on Shrewsbury Street, is expected to be completed by late summer 2017.

The scheme will feature a new church, community space, cafe, pharmacy, health care facilities, library, contact centre, activity hall, nursery, business units and more.

There will also be 81 extra care residential apartments which will provide older and more vulnerable people with high quality homes for them to live independently.

Trafford Housing Trust, which is delivering the three acre project in partnership with Trafford Council and the Homes and Community Agency, is now asking residents and people who work, volunteer or are involved in the area to vote on three proposed names – Mosaic, Limelight or Fabrick – one of which will be worked up into a fully designed destination brand for the Shrewsbury Street development. The vote, which will be based on a first past the post system, is open now and will close at midnight on October 18. After votes have been counted and verified, the most popular name will be officially announced in November.

The shortlisted names are a result of extensive public consultation. Over the last 18 months Trafford Housing Trust and partners have engaged with over 2,000 people from the area and asked them what was important about Old Trafford, and what the building might be called. This was done through a series of community events, workshops, surveys, public meetings, and via the trust’s website.

The main themes which emerged from the consultation process included diversity, community, vibrancy, energy, pride and strength. These sentiments and values were then used to help shape a ‘long list’ of potential names which were played back to the community for further discussion and feedback.

Following this process an initial shortlist was drawn up which was subject to a rigorous due diligence exercise.

This resulted in six preferred names being voted on, with the top three (Mosaic, Limelight and Fabrick) going forward for the public vote.

Matthew Gardiner, chief executive of trafford housing trust, said: “We wanted to put local people at the heart of this project and from the very beginning the community has directly shaped what the development will offer, stand for and look like.

"We now want them to help us name the scheme and choose which name they think best represents the spirit and vibrancy of Old Trafford and its people through a public vote.”

Trafford Housing Trust is encouraging everyone who is part of the Old Trafford community to vote by post, and special pre-paid postcards will be available through local shops, the library, religious buildings and other public outlets in Old Trafford during the three week vote. Trafford Housing Trust customers in the Old Trafford area will also get sent the voting cards.

The fully branded version of the winning name will be revealed in the new year.