With all the current discussion going on about the redevelopment of Stretford town centre, it’s good timing that I came across some old negatives of mine, including these shots of Stretford Arndale from the late 80s / early 90s. As you can probably guess, I’m not really sure of the exact date, but it was around that time.

As a teenager, I was quite into my photography and these black and white photos would have been ones I processed myself at home. While they might not be the best quality, they are a snapshot of when the Arndale was actually a thriving shopping centre. So thriving that they built the extension facing onto the car park. And look at those Christmas decorations, you don’t see that much effort nowadays!

We lived in Urmston at the time, which had a pretty limited selection of shops. So it was quite common to go to Stretford if you wanted more. Obviously, times have changed radically since then, with the Trafford Centre opening down the road, more and more retail parks being built and the advent of internet shopping. I’d imagine the majority of the retail chains occupying the centre at this time no longer exist.

I’m optimistic for the future of Stretford, and hoping the proposed redevelopment will give us a town centre suitable for the 21st century.

Update – Stretford Arndale before it closed

With development of Stretford town centre progressing, Stretford Arndale (Stretford Mall) has now closed completely, as demolition gets underway. In something of a follow-up to those original photos I took years ago, I returned a week before it closed and took some more photos.

While Stretford Arndale looks a sorry state, with its best years behind it, I’m really hopeful for what’s to come. The first phase of development on King Street and Sir Tony Lloyd Square has been done really well and it’s great seeing the town centre come to life.

With work still outstanding on the units under the car park and a number of units still empty, the addition of the fantastic new cinema and regular Makers Market really give a taste of what’s to come.

The planned residential development on the site of Stretford Arndale will bring much-needed density to the area, which is needed to support a thriving town centre. Overall, the proposals look pretty promising.