The Executive of Trafford Council met on Monday 20 July 2026 to discuss and approve key strategic plans for the borough's future development. Significant decisions were made regarding the Trafford Local Plan and the ambitious Trafford Wharfside Strategic Masterplan, which outlines a transformative vision for the area.

Trafford Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation Approval

The Executive approved the Trafford Local Plan (Publication Version) 2026 for public consultation. This plan is a crucial step towards ensuring Trafford has an up-to-date Local Plan, outlining allocations, designations, and the potential use of compulsory purchase powers for site assembly. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with relevant officers and the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, to make minor amendments prior to the public consultation period, which was set to begin no earlier than 3 August 2026. Further delegations were made regarding the preparation of Statements of Common Ground and the agreement of proposed main modifications to meet the tests of 'soundness' as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework.

Trafford Wharfside Strategic Masterplan

The Executive approved the draft Trafford Wharfside Strategic Masterplan for consultation, alongside its associated consultation strategy. This masterplan presents a significant and transformative opportunity for the largest sports-led regeneration scheme in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics. It is projected to deliver over £7 billion of investment, 15,000 homes, and 48,000 local jobs, anchored by a new 100,000-seater stadium for Manchester United. The masterplan provides a strategic framework for planning decisions in the Trafford Wharfside area, underpinning a substantial emerging Local Plan allocation and enabling investment decisions by both public and private sectors. It sets out key placemaking, public realm, and urban design principles to deliver a sustainable community with access to essential infrastructure. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, to make minor changes to the draft masterplan before consultation formally commences. Following consultation and consideration of responses, a final masterplan will be presented to the Executive for adoption, at which point it will supersede previous development framework documents for the area.

Budget Monitoring Reports

The Executive also received reports on the Council's budget monitoring for the 2025/26 financial year and the projected outturn for the 2026/27 financial year. For 2025/26, a revenue service budget underspend of £2.603 million was reported, representing a favourable movement of £1.596 million since the previous period. This underspend was attributed to various factors including staffing vacancies, favourable treasury management, and lower energy costs, although pressures were noted in Children's placements and Adult Social Care demand. The Capital Programme for 2025/26 showed an underspend of £20.45 million against the revised budget, with significant expenditure in areas such as schools, integrated transport, and highways maintenance.

For the 2026/27 financial year, a projected revenue outturn overspend of £1.97 million was reported. Key pressures identified include significant adverse variances in Adult Services demand and Children's placements. Management actions and mitigating actions were noted as crucial for delivering a balanced budget and effective financial management. The Capital Programme for 2026/29 was revised upwards by £26.28 million to £148.65 million, largely due to the reprofiling of expenditure from 2025/26 and additional grant allocations, particularly for High Needs Provision.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position for 2026/27 showed a significant projected overspend of £16.93 million, primarily driven by the High Needs Block. The Council's accumulated DSG deficit is projected to reach £20.12 million by the year-end, with the High Needs Block deficit alone estimated at £48.852 million, partially offset by the High Needs Stability Grant.

The Housing Benefit subsidy position for 2026/27 was forecast to be a favourable variance of £35k, reflecting positive work in reducing reliance on B&B accommodation, although pressures remain due to increased use of other forms of temporary accommodation.

The Finance and Transformational Change Programme continues to provide a framework for savings and financial resilience, with ongoing deep-dive exercises and business case development. The lobbying and communication plan to advocate for fairer funding for the borough was also highlighted.