Trafford Council has confirmed it is not selling Altrincham Town Hall, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The clarification comes as the council publishes its Strategic Land Review, which lists dozens of sites across the borough earmarked for sale.
The disposal programme is part of the council's efforts to fund capital investment while managing a £27 million budget shortfall over the next two years - a gap that has required emergency government support for the second year running.
A council spokesperson told Altrincham Today: "The Council is not selling Altrincham Town Hall and has no intention of doing so. It signed a long lease with Oyez Arts in 2024 to use the building and the group is doing some fantastic work in the community which we support."
The confusion appears to stem from the Town Hall's inclusion on the council's disposal list, where it is marked as subject to "ongoing community asset transfer negotiations" - a process that would see ownership transferred to a community group rather than sold commercially.
Altrincham sites on the disposal list
Several other sites in the Altrincham area are earmarked for sale or development. Category 1 disposals - properties the council is committed to selling - include:
- Former Altrincham Library, Stamford New Road - the first floor and ground floor are being marketed, with negotiations ongoing for a premium on the leasehold interest
- The Jubilee Centre, St Marys Road, Bowdon - sale agreed, subject to contract
- Wharf Road Garages, Altrincham - sale agreed, subject to contract
- Land at Balmoral Road, Altrincham - in negotiation
- Land at Central Way, Altrincham - disposal planned for 2026/27
- Brown Street Car Park, Hale - disposal planned for 2026/27
- Priory Road, Bowdon - newly added to the list
Category 2 sites, where the council may develop in partnership or sell to developers, include:
- Stokoe Avenue, Altrincham - receipts expected 2026/27
- Land at Oakfield Road/Moss Lane, Altrincham - receipts expected 2026/27
- Lacy Street land assembly (former sorting office, probation building and car park) - receipts expected 2027/28
Why is the council selling assets?
The council is targeting £10.6 million from asset sales over the next three years. However, the proceeds are ringfenced for capital investment and cannot be used to plug the gap in day-to-day spending.
A spokesperson said: "Every year we carry out a review of our assets and those that are deemed to be surplus, we then make a decision about whether to keep them. The proceeds go to funding our capital programme and are separate to our revenue budget and cannot be spent on day to day services we provide.
"No current functioning schools or libraries are being sold."
The Stamford Quarter shopping centre, which the council acquired and redeveloped, is not being sold. It is listed alongside Stretford Mall as subject to "lease re-gears" - a renegotiation of existing lease terms with tenants rather than a disposal.
