Sale Lido building could be demolished for new housing development

The former Mecca Bingo building on Washway Road – once home to the Sale Lido – could be largely demolished under new plans submitted to Trafford Council.

The site, which first opened as Sale Lido in 1935, has been part of the town for 90 years. In its heyday, the Art Deco complex boasted an indoor swimming pool, sunbathing solarium, shops and restaurants, quickly becoming a popular leisure destination for local families.

Over the decades, the building has seen a number of reinventions. It later operated as a ballroom before becoming a Mecca Bingo hall. The bingo venue closed in 2023, leaving the prominent Washway Road site empty ever since.

Now, a joint planning application from McCarthy Stone and Built Development Ltd proposes demolishing most of the existing structure. According to the developers, Mecca vacated the building due to its “state of disrepair”, with ongoing water ingress said to have affected the structure.

Under the proposals, only the original lido façade would be retained. Behind it, a new apartment block would front Washway Road, delivering 39 affordable homes – 27 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom flats – alongside four ground-floor retail units.

A second block, positioned to the rear of the L-shaped site and facing Hunters Mews, would provide 40 retirement apartments managed by McCarthy Stone. Of these, 26 would be one-bedroom and 14 would be two-bedroom homes.

The developers say both specialist housing for older people and affordable housing are much-needed in the local area.

If approved, the scheme would mark a significant change for one of Sale’s most recognisable buildings, balancing the preservation of its historic façade with the creation of 79 new homes.

The application is now awaiting a decision from Trafford Council.

Planning reference: 118041/FUL/25