RESIDENTS and business have voted in favour of a blueprint that will help shape the future of Altrincham.

They gave the green light to the Neighbourhood Business Plan for Altrincham in two referendums held by the council on October 19.

The plan includes development of a main shopping area, new retail development, housing, car parking and community facilities.

Covering six areas, including the old hospital site on Market Street and the Regent Road Car Park, council chiefs and community leaders say the plan will enable new development to further boost the town.

Voters were asked whether they wanted the council to use the Neighbourhood Business Plan for Altrincham when deciding on planning applications for the area.

In the business referendum the turnout was 46.1 per cent with 95.7 per cent voting in favour of the Neighbourhood Business Plan and 4.3 per cent voting against.

In the residential part of the referendum, 84.6 per cent voted yes and 15.4 per cent voted no to using the plan. The turnout, however, was only 14.7 per cent - with 175 of the 1300 eligible voters taking part.

The Altrincham Town Centre Neighbourhood Business Plan was developed through public consultation, and was also evaluated by an independent examiner.

Tony Collier, chairman of the Neighbourhood Business Forum, said: "We are absolutely delighted after 4 years of hard work that the Plan received a 'yes' vote and will be adopted by Trafford Council. It was encouraging that despite the complicated registration processes for businesses to register to vote that over half of them did take part, with 96 per cent voting yes.

Tony, an influential figure in drafting the Town Centre Working Plan as a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, said: "While turnout overall, particularly among residents, was disappointing, we expected that this might be the case due to the length of time the referenda process has taken and the Council's chosen boundary.

"Regardless of these issues, however, those who did take part gave their support to this important plan which is crucial to the continued regeneration of Altrincham town centre."

Executive member for housing and strategic Planning, Cllr David Hopps, said: “The plan developed by the Altrincham Town Centre Neighbourhood Business Forum brings together a well-considered combination of business, residential and community use to the area that will continue to make the town centre thrive.

"The council is committed to developing all our town centres so that they are great places to both work and live in, and desirable places for people to visit.”