THE revitalisation of Altrincham is well underway, according to council chiefs.

They says that plans to breathe new life into the town centre are already paying off and helping the town centre to thrive.

They point out that there are new developments on site, footfall is up 28 per cent over the past 12 months and shop vacancy rates greatly reduced - down from 19 per cent in 2014 to 11.1 per cent.

This is coupled with the addition of a number of recent high profile openings including national chains JD Sports, Paperchase and Bistrot Pierre, along with high quality independent retailers and food and drink outlets opening such as Con Club and Rankin Styles.

Developments include the new transport interchange and the revamp of the market hall.

Plans in the pipeline include the multi-million pound Altair scheme and a £20m health and wellbeing centre and library on the former hospital site.

Trafford Council deputy leader, Cllr Alex Williams, believes an important reason for this significant shift, is the continuing investment in town centre public realm improvements.

The public realm scheme once complete, will seamlessly link each distinct area of the town, improving the town’s flow and making it easier and more pleasurable for visitors.

Cllr Williams acknowledges there is no way so much could have been achieved already without the cooperation and understanding of the town's businesses and visitors, who are facing some inconvenience and disruption, most recently due to the continuing Stamford New Road works.

He said: “As a council we remain committed to the sustainability and transformation of our town centres and we are focussed on ensuring they continue to provide that exciting mix of high quality leisure, retail and living spaces for locals and visitors alike.

"This has seen unprecedented town centre public and private sector investment in recent times. This includes £3m of funding which the council has already attracted for this project to improve the look and feel of the public realm. We appreciate that this on-going major scheme is taking time, but we need to make sure it is right.

"Once complete Altrincham will benefit from new, attractive road and pavement layouts, planting and street furniture and the latest stage, along Stamford New Road, Altrincham’s main thoroughfare, is due to be completed at the end of April 2017.

"Altrincham, acknowledged as Trafford’s flagship town centre, now has a modern transport interchange making it easier and convenient for workers, residents and visitors to travel into the town centre. Once there they can choose from a fantastic variety of shops and leisure outlets, including the town’s historic Market Hall, transformed thanks to significant Council investment, and see for themselves how the town is transforming.

"Work has started on the demolitions ahead of phase 1 of the iconic Altair development, which will not only bring high quality, contemporary spaces to boost the retail and leisure offer in the town centre, but also modern new homes and office spaces.

"The ongoing building work on the new Library and Health and Wellbeing Centre on the former old hospital site will further invigorate the Market Quarter. While everyone involved recognises that these are exciting times, there is also an understanding that they bring with them short term issues and inconvenience for established businesses, workers and visitors.

"As a Council we believe that the short term pain is more than compensated by the long term gain. To see developers, new and relocating businesses and increased numbers of shoppers from near and far all choosing Altrincham as their destination of choice, is encouraging and testimony to the high quality opportunities and prospects the town centre offers. By working together, we are all ensuring that Altrincham once again shines as the region’s premier ‘go-to’ destination.”

The new Business Improvement District (BID), led by a private sector board is responsible for managing a £1.4m budget over a five year period and delivering activities set out in the BID Business Plan. The BID is key to bringing these developments and improvements to fruition, for the benefit of all businesses and residents.