At the other end of pedestrianised George Street, Merepark’s contemporary refurbishment with a high standard design and quality retail frontages offers an opportunity to businesses looking to locate in Altrincham.

A £10 million development at Denmark Street houses an award winning multi-screen cinema, and adjoining restaurant plus parking for 90 cars.

Altrincham’s Historic Market Quarter has also undergone some major refurbishment work, still retaining its character but enhancing what is on offer, including meeting rooms for hire at the renovated Altrincham Town Hall and office space for small businesses.

Altrincham also has a year round ice rink that provides community skating, professional coaching and is also home to Elite Ice Hockey League team, Manchester Phoenix.

Nikal’s stunning multi million pound Altair development proposals, as well as providing a permanent home to the ice rink, the only one in Greater Manchester, will combine leisure, commercial (including offices) and residential elements with a hotel, new public space and extra parking spaces.The proposed scheme could be completed by 2014/15.

And on Stamford New Road, Altrincham's other main shopping centre, The Graftons (which also has an entrance on George Street), is currently undergoing a major refurbishment with two national retailers and a hotel signed up and scheduled to open in the first half of 2012 in addition to the valuable specialist and independent businesses already there.

The process is well underway on proposals for a replacement state of the art Altrincham General Hospital to be located on Railway Street in the heart of the town, with a potential start on site date of Summer 2012.

The major plans to improve Altrincham’s Interchange for bus, train and tram users as well as environmental improvements to the surrounding area have been approved and work is due to start in 2012.