TODAY signals the completion of the first phase of Old Trafford’s £20million Shrewsbury Street development.

The new, modern St Bride’s Church opened today, Mothering Sunday.

The church, which forms a key part of the multi-purpose Limelight scheme, has moved to a more prominent site, with its entrance on St Brides Way, at the corner of Shrewsbury Street.

St Bride’s Vicar Revd Peter Matthews has lived adjacent to the site of the new church over the past year, and has helped steer the project along as it took shape.

He said: “We hope that as time goes on this brilliant resource will be used in God’s mission to the communities around us, as well as for building up of the church family that is already here.”

The Limelight scheme, which is expected to be completed by summer 2017, will also feature a 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.

The development has been funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council.

Matthew Gardiner, chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust, said: “The trust has worked very closely with the Diocese, Reverend Matthews and the current St Brides’ congregation to ensure the new church meets the needs of its parishioners and the wider local community.

“This project is also another very important milestone for our Limelight scheme and I am delighted that it is now officially open.”