Salford - Place North West

Domis completes Salford Quays’ tallest building

Dan Whelan — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 06:48:26 +0000

Cole Waterhouse and Taurus Investment’s 290-apartment build-to-rent scheme Eda rises to 29 storeys at its highest point.

Domis Construction has completed Cole Waterhouse’s debut BTR scheme ahead of schedule and interest in the properties has been high.

The lettings team received more than 500 enquiries for the homes in the initial days of marketing, according to Cole Waterhouse.

Simon Gallanders, managing director of Cole Waterhouse Residential, said: “We’ve worked in close partnership with our joint venture partner Taurus and our contractor Domis to achieve this milestone.

“[We have] taken a highly collaborative approach from start to finish, which has had a significant impact on the speed and quality of delivery.”

The scheme’s main contractor also pointed to the collaboration between the project team as the reason behind the early completion of Eda.

Lee McCarren, managing director of Domis Construction, said he is “proud” to have completed the project “well ahead of time”.

“That achievement is down to the dedication and commitment of our superb team working in close collaboration with Cole Waterhouse and Taurus.

“The team developed an incredible bond during the delivery of this prestigious scheme, taking a real partnership approach, with flexibility and trust shown on all sides.”

Eda is the second time Cole Waterhouse and Domis have worked together following the completion of No1 Old Trafford in 2021.

Following the success of their Eda partnership, Cole Waterhouse and Taurus are now working together on a scheme at Upper Trinity Street in Digbeth.

“The delivery of Eda really has been a great example of a best-in-class partnership working together to achieve a superb sustainable project,” stated Nick Jacobs, managing director of Taurus UK.

“We started this programme in Covid and despite the continued economic turbulence and the associated supply and skills issues Domis has completed a remarkable job to achieve such an early handover of the building.”

Designed by Chapman Taylor, Eda is a 250,640 sq ft, two-part residential building comprising one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, located close to the Anchorage Metrolink stop.

The scheme features two landscaped terrace gardens on the mezzanine and level 19, plus private terraces for each rooftop penthouse apartment.

At ground level, there is 4,000 sq ft of commercial space pre-let to Co-op Food, as well as extensive areas of internal amenity including a co-working space, residents’ lounges, a cinema room, bookable private dining and entertaining facilities, and a gym.

In terms of sustainability credentials, Eda features high grade insulation for thermal efficiency, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting
to minimise energy consumption and reduce utility costs for residents, as well as MVHR systems to reduce heating loads.

The Eda delivery includes Jon Matthews Architects as delivery architect, WSP Planning, structural engineers Renaissance, M&E consultants Novo, landscape architects Exterior Architecture, project managers/quantity surveying services by Henry Riley, Project Four Safety Solutions providing CDM and Principal Designer services with legal advice from Ward Hadaway.

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Heritage Commission Coordinator

Daniel Coetsee — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:10:22 +0000

Salary: Grade 4C (scp 39-42) 45,495 – 48,587

Working Hours: Up to 36 hours per week, worked flexibly

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 19th September 2023, 23:59

Location: Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 5AW

About us

Salford City Council is very pleased to be offering the opportunity to work within its Planning Service as its Heritage Commission Coordinator.

Salford is a city with a rich heritage which is a source of local pride to many in its communities and contributing to the city’s character and identity. Heritage needs support to remain in a good condition, including investment in its fabric and imagination in its use. Salford City Council is committed to establishing a Salford Heritage Commission, which would work to find innovative opportunities to secure and restore the city’s important heritage. The Heritage Commission would have the aim of giving a sustainable future top the city’s heritage, building upon and reinforcing the city council’s wider aims and aspirations for placemaking and heritage.

About the role

The role will have report to the Head of Planning, but will work across the city council’s development activity and with its partners.

The Heritage Commission Coordinator would be the key role to set up and manage the operation of the Heritage Commission. This role would be responsible for convening the Heritage Commission, developing its terms of reference and work programme, and collaborating with a wide range of partners to achieve outcomes. The role-holder would have a prominent position in Salford’s heritage network, and would engage with partners from the public, private and community sector.

About you

Your style and approach will reflect our values.

We’re looking for someone who will be enthusiastic about the city and its heritage for this post. You should have experience engaging and negotiating with a broad range of partners to secure commitment to outcomes, and be familiar with the process of identifying and accessing opportunities for funding from a wide range of sources.

You should have experience and expertise in managing and delivering projects. You should be happy working with initiative and be able to find novel approaches to overcome challenges. You should be enthusiastic about and interested in built heritage, but a formal qualification in this area is not a requirement for the role.

To apply and for more information, please go to https://www.greater.jobs/search-and-apply/job-details/SF-82718/

If you would like to discuss the role informally first, please contact James Shuttleworth on 07773 009 862 or james.shuttleworth@salford.gov.uk

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Progressive puts faith in co-living with 41-storey Salford tower

Dan Whelan — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:41:49 +0000

The developer has lodged proposals for a residential scheme featuring 568 homes in the city’s burgeoning Greengate district, while the hotel that was originally part of the scheme has been omitted.

Progressive Living’s long-awaited scheme will see a narrow site off Gorton Street redeveloped into a 41-storey co-living tower, under proposals submitted to Salford City Council.

The latest iteration of the scheme is five storeys taller than the scheme Progressive consulted on in 2021 and that is not the only change that has been made.

In the works since before the pandemic, Progressive’s Gorton Street proposals were originally for a 36-storey tower with a 50/50 co-living and hotel split.

However, market sentiment has prompted the developer to put all its eggs in the co-living basket, director David Fairclough told Place North West.

“We have been working on proposals for this site for some time now and are excited to finally share this high-quality development,” Fairclough said.

“We believe it will create a vibrant community through the array of communal spaces available to residents and promote wellbeing through its focus on lifestyle amenities. The scheme’s co-living offer will complement the mainly BTR tenure of adjacent towers in Greengate and bring a more affordable entry into city centre living.”

Progressive said talks with a funding partner and co-living operator are at an advanced stage and that a start on site is planned for spring 2024.

Fairclough added: “Currently being used as a surface-level car park, our vision for Gorton Street presents an opportunity to redevelop a forgotten pocket of land in a way that will positively contribute to Salford’s wider regeneration strategy for the Greengate area and deliver sought-after co-living accommodation that will provide quality, affordable places to live for young professionals.”

Designed by BDP, the project would see the creation of a building given over solely to co-living, an emerging residential product that places an emphasis on shared amenities rather than private living space.

The building includes four floors of amenity space that offer residents lounges, a cinema room, games room and makers space, communal cooking and dining areas, a gym and wellness centre, co-working spaces and meeting rooms.

In addition, a landscaped roof terrace and a sky bar will be accessible to residents on the 37th floor.

The railway arches located next to the tower would be repurposed into social and leisure units under separate plans currently being drawn up.

To learn more, search for application reference 23/82208/FUL on the city council’s planning portal.

The co-living concept is popular in cities and among graduates and is often seen as a stepping stone between student accommodation and build-to-rent.

There are several large co-living developments under construction in Manchester including Downing’s 2,224-unit Square Gardens near First Street and two towers to be operated under Vita’s Union brand close to Factory International.

The professional team for Progressive’s Gorton Street project also includes Zerum, Turley, Renaissance, Novo, Exterior Architecture, GIA, OFR, Our Studio, Hann Tucker, Our Studio and Hydrock.

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Salix Homes secures £120m refinancing deal

Sophie Rennie — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:37:30 +0000

The Salford housing association has agreed the funding facility with NatWest in order to deliver the ambitions set out in its business plan.

Salix Homes will use the £120m refinancing deal to build more affordable and sustainable homes across the city to add to its existing portfolio of more than 8,000 properties.

Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “This refinancing deal with NatWest marks another major milestone for Salix Homes, and will enable us to continue with our ambitious plans to deliver much-needed, new, and affordable housing, as well as invest in our existing homes and communities.”

Since 2015, the company has invested more than £210m in homes and communities across Salford and built more than 290 homes, with another 250 under construction.

Current new-build developments being delivered by Salix Homes include the Greenhaus apartment block on Chapel Street, which is a 96-home affordable housing development being built to Passivhaus standards. This scheme has also been funded by NatWest.

Sutton said: “We will soon be launching our next corporate plan setting out our key priorities for the future, which aims to take us back to our roots and refocus on our core values to provide good quality homes and services to our customers, as well as build 100 new and affordable homes every year.

“Sustainability is a key focus, and we’re committed to building greener homes and neighbourhoods, while ensuring we continue to be well-governed and financially viable.”

The refinancing exercise has been supported by NatWest and Savills Financial Consultants.

Martin Skinner, director of housing finance at NatWest, said: “Like Salix Homes, NatWest is dedicated to supporting our customers and communities and it is fantastic to be able to support the organisation with a new finance package that will help create new homes in Salford.”

Alex Morgan, director at Savills Financial Consultants, added: “We are proud to have supported Salix Homes through this significant transaction that has navigated both market volatility and sector-specific challenges.

“The outcome materially reduces treasury risk, whilst releasing capacity to allow the organisation to expand investment into its communities.”

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Urban Splash invests £15m in portfolio expansion

Sophie Rennie — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:53:02 +0000

The regeneration company has purchased 67 fully-occupied homes across Manchester and Salford.

The Urban Splash Residential Fund has invested £15m in off-market acquisitions, expanding the number of homes in its portfolio by 41% to 437.

Acquisitions include terraced homes at Chimney Pot Park in Salford, as well as a number of apartments at 3Towers in Manchester.

These recent purchases add £1.3m of income to the fund’s rent roll and follow the signing of a £20m revolving credit facility with Barclays.

Fund manager Akeel Malik said: “2023 has been a significant year of growth for us; we are moving forward with acquisitions and offering more people the chance to live in brilliantly designed homes in cities across the country.

“We are focusing on off-market higher yielding acquisitions in the current macroeconomic environment, whilst preserving rent-to-income levels of less than 30% for our residents (currently 22%)”.

Among this wave of acquisitions, the company also acquired 112 apartments at East Street Mills in Leeds.

The Urban Splash Residential Fund was established in June 2017 to acquire design-led homes in urban regeneration areas across the UK. So far, the fund has acquired sites across the North West in Prestwich, New Islington in Manchester, and Altrincham.

Malik said: “Our portfolio of differentiated homes is well positioned for modern living with flexible, spacious interiors, access to outdoor spaces, and strong connectivity.

“We remain committed to offering residents well-designed mid-market homes, at rental levels that preserve an average rent-to-income ratio of <30%.”

Gorvins acted on behalf of the fund. Pinsent Masons acted on behalf of the vendors.

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OnSide seeks contractor for Salford Youth Zone

Sophie Rennie — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:21:00 +0000

A bid race has begun for the construction of the young people’s leisure activity centre off Belvedere Road in Pendleton.

Charity OnSide is looking for a contractor to build its Salford Youth Zone, which will add to the company’s 14-strong portfolio of facilities across the North West.

Firms who have already expressed an interest in the project have until 15 September to return their bids. The £8.8m contract will begin on 13 November and is expected to last 14 months.

The Studio Power-designed scheme will deliver a two-storey youth hub, featuring a music studio, film and multimedia suite, climbing wall, sports hall, and fitness gym.

Outside, visitors will also have access to two sports pitches.

Empower Youth Zones will manage the centre. The company received £7.6m from the government’s Youth Investment Fund for the project in March.

The project team includes structural and civil engineer Renaissance Associates, landscape architect Wright Landscapes, transport consultant SK Transport Planning, and noise consultant Miller Goodall.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 22/80947/FUL on Salford City Council’s planning portal.

OnSide is active across the North West. The company was granted planning permission to build facilities in Crewe and Preston last month.

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Salford Tories delay council’s stadium buy

Dan Whelan — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 08:47:44 +0000

A pair of councillors are demanding more scrutiny over the authority’s decision to acquire the AJ Bell Stadium, saying the benefits of buying the ground are outweighed by the risks.

Salford City Council Mayor Paul Dennett signed off a decision to take full control of the stadium – either by way of a land acquisition or by purchasing Peel L&P’s shares in the City of Salford Community Stadium Ltd – in July.

However, Conservative councillors Robin Garrido and Darren Ward have called in the decision, citing a raft of concerns about the deal, which has been rumbling on for some time.

These worries, submitted in a letter to the city council, include:

Worries that the income the stadium would generate would not be sufficient to justify the cost of the acquisition
A lack of public scrutiny over the decision due to some elements of the original report being private
A lack of information provided on third-party bids that “may have achieved the same objectives and reduced the risk to the council”.

The councillors claim that “the benefits of purchasing/owning the stadium cannot be considered proportionate to the projected [financial] results of the stadium itself”.

Read the full letter outlining the councillor’s concerns.

Salford City Council’s growth and prosperity scrutiny panel will meet next week to decide whether to go ahead with the acquisition, bat the issue back to the mayor for a second look, or refer it to a meeting of full council for a final decision.

As well as taking full control of the sports venue, the city council has also agreed to provide a £350,000 “rescue support” loan to Salford Red Devils, which plays its home games there.

One of Garrido and Ward’s concerns about the viability of the acquisition was around the Red Devils’ past struggles to pay its rent.

The club has previously stated that the terms of its existing lease, which expires this December, are unsustainable.

Salford City Council’s intention to acquire the stadium means the rugby league side would stay put and sign an extended lease of up to five years.

As well as providing the aforementioned loan, the city council has tasked the rugby league club with developing a “compelling business and restructuring plan” to help it become financially sustainable.

Any Salford Red Devils lease would contain a break clause “linked to the ability for the club or the city council to terminate the lease if it became clear that Red Devils was unable to meet its financial commitments”, according to a cabinet report published earlier this year.

The proposed purchase of the 12,000-capacity stadium, built in 2011, is aimed at delivering “demonstrable and ongoing social value” and securing the city council’s long-term interests in any future redevelopment and regeneration of the adjacent development land.

“While the operational costs of the stadium are broadly covered by income, operational activity has not generated the capacity to repay outstanding debt,” the report states.

Debt on the stadium currently stands at £37m.

The Red Devils currently shares the ground with rugby union side Sale Sharks, which bid to buy the stadium in partnership with football club Salford City FC last year. The city council and Peel declined the bid, Sale Sharks confirmed late last year.

That deal could have seen Salford City relocate from its ground at Moor Lane in Kersal to the AJ Bell, with the Red Devils going in the opposite direction.

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Plan to bulldoze Salford KFC, McDonald’s, and casino stutters

Dan Whelan — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:40:53 +0000

The city council has rejected proposals for the demolition of the three buildings at Riverside Retail Park, a site that is earmarked for residential redevelopment.

UAE-based Imco Holdings, which owns the Regent Road site, asked for permission to demolish the three buildings in July.

However, Salford City Council has blocked the plans as they were “not sufficiently robust”, according to a decision notice handed down this week.

The authority wants Imco to provide more information on how the environmental risks to the River Irwell associated with the demolition of the casino will be managed and how the site would be restored after the buildings have been levelled.

Cassidy + Ashton is advising Imco on the demolition proposals. To learn more, search for reference number 23/82023/DEMCON on Salford City Council’s planning portal.

While Imco owns Riverside Retail Park, it is understood that Forshaw Land and Property is the developer attached to the site. The developer’s branding appears on the planning documents and the company is building the 160-apartment Pavillion Wharf on an adjacent plot.

As part of the planning application for that scheme, an outline for how the redevelopment of the Riverside Retail Park might look was also provided.

This indicated that as well as Pavillion Wharf, another four blocks between nine and 25 storeys could be delivered where the casino and two fast food restaurants currently stand.

Riverside Retail Park is located opposite Regent Retail Park, which is the subject of proposals from Henley Investment Management to be redeveloped into 3,200 homes.

Early-stage plans for Henley’s scheme also feature a 264-metre tower, which would be the third tallest in the country if built today.

Pipeline developments in this area amount to a westward extension of Manchester city centre.

Over the border in Manchester, Renaker is on site delivering River Gardens, the redevelopment of the Trinity Islands site.

This scheme comprises 1,950 apartments across four towers.

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GALLERY | Inside AECOM’s Salford office

Julia Hatmaker — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:37:09 +0000

Overlooking the River Irwell and boasting a fantastic view of Manchester Cathedral 100 Embankment is the base for 580 staff from the global multidisciplinary company.

AECOM took over the 20,000 sq ft fourth floor of the office block, which is owned by Salford City Council, earlier this year. The deal, which was signed in January, was brokered by 100 Embankment’s joint leasing agents Cushman and Wakefield and CBRE. AECOM’s neighbours in 100 Embankment include coworking space X+Why and, soon, Deloitte.

While mostly open plan, the AECOM office is stocked up with multiple meeting rooms, focus spaces, and working pods for those who need a more private space.

The community comes together in The Hive, an informal gathering space that does have a definite buzz about it during lunchtime.

The view from AECOM’s office at 100 Embankment, showing Manchester Cathedral. Credit: via AECOM

AECOM moved to 100 Embankment from 1 New York Street in Manchester. The move has been a definite upgrade, according to Jonathan Moore, regional director for the North and Midlands.

“It’s open with high windows, lots of space, and great views – it’s a very positive environment and it makes me want to walk to a colleague and say ‘how are you getting on today?’” Moore said. “In the old location, it was much more densely populated, dark, and you just felt like you didn’t want to do that.”

Moore has also noticed that there is an uptick in those choosing to work from the office rather than from home.

The office is covered in nods to Greater Manchester with quotes from the likes of Tony Wilson emblazoned on the walls and paintings of the city hung up.

Concerns about moving from Manchester to Salford have so far proven unfounded. Many of those working at AECOM live in South Manchester, Moore said, which meant the shift across the river created a bit of a walk to and from the office.

“That hasn’t been an issue though,” Moore said.

The Salford space itself has become a recruitment tool, according to Moore, who has personally brought up potential job candidates to the office to show off the space.

“It’s a very grand location when you look at the views you’ve got,” Moore said.

Click on any image to launch gallery. All photos courtesy of AECOM.

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Plans in to transform former Salford miners club site

Sophie Rennie — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:44:32 +0000

King Associates is eyeing the five-acre brownfield plot off Temple Drive to deliver up to 63 houses.

Outline proposals for the former site of Pendlebury Miners Club would see the demolition of two houses at 14 and 16 Goodwood Drive to make way for the housing development.

Designed by Triangle Architects, the scheme would feature 17 two-, 34 three-, and 12 four-bedroom houses, including five affordable homes. Properties would range from 800 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft.

Plans also include the creation of access off Goodwood Drive.

Residents would be provided with off-street or driveway parking, with plans featuring a total of 101 car parking and 126 cycle spaces.

The site is currently vacant following the closure and subsequent demolition of the former miners club in 1999.

Frost Planning is the planning consultant for the scheme. Also on the project team is transport consultant Eddisons, structural engineer ALM Consult, and arboricultural consultant Murray Tree Consultancy.

Hann Tucker Associates is the noise consultant. Hydrock is advising on flood risk and drainage strategy.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 23/81450/OUT on Salford City Council’s planning portal.

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Transport bodies join forces for ‘landmark’ Manchester station strategy

Dan Whelan — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:24:49 +0000

Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Salford Central, and Salford Crescent all feature within the scope of TfGM and Network Rail’s plan for better-connected cities.

The transport bodies have signed a collaboration agreement to deliver a joint vision for the six stations that will bring together land and infrastructure to establish future regeneration opportunities.

Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, chair of Network Rail, said: “This is a landmark moment for Manchester and Salford, to see our two organisations build a partnership team to make the best of our resources and expertise.

“Working jointly with the local authorities, we are putting passengers and rail services at the forefront of infrastructure investment and wider neighbourhood improvements.”

The partnership will focus on transport upgrades and supporting regeneration that allows the two cities to meet the demands of future population growth and further support the regional economy, according to a joint statement.

Over the next 12 months, TfGM and Network Rail will work together to produce a plan based on five shared goals:

Integrated transport system: Deliver a modern, integrated transport system. This will attract customers and provide a service which encourages people to use public transport first and reduce reliance on cars
Development around stations: Take a joined-up approach to securing additional funding and maximising commercial development opportunities around the stations and assets. This will increase the attractiveness of development opportunities by looking at them in a comprehensive way
Placemaking: Consider each station within the community, heritage, and cultural context to ensure wider social value is delivered. Creating a joined-up strategy for all the stations and an overarching vision which supports an integrated transport system
Towards net zero carbon: Ensure climate change and the journey to Net Zero is a key focus and is a priority for strategic decisions to support the stations
Access for all: Improve accessibility inside and around the stations and deliver ease of movement between the stations and the wider city.

Vernon Everitt, transport commissioner for Greater Manchester, added: “The ever-changing skylines across Salford and Manchester city centres reflect the extent to which Greater Manchester is growing.

“As we deliver our Bee Network plans for a truly integrated network, it is vital our rail stations – and surrounding areas – evolve to meet these demands, and this new partnership signifies our joint commitment alongside Manchester and Salford districts to delivering a modernised railway that puts passengers and local communities at its heart.”

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AECOM appoints Northern regional director

Julia Hatmaker — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:36:27 +0000

Matthew Gerken has joined the global infrastructure consultancy’s building and places division after seven years working at rival RPS Group.

As regional director for the North for the building and places team, Gerken is charged with both building AECOM’s relationships with its Northern clients and growing the business’s portfolio. He brings with him more than 25 years of experience in property, with expertise in strategic project management.

Gerken began his role at AECOM in July and is based out of AECOM’S Salford office.

“I am really pleased to join AECOM and looking forward to meeting new colleagues and further strengthening our regional presence,” Gerken said.

“AECOM is very much a ‘one team’ business for both clients and colleagues, collaboration and working in partnership are the key elements for a successful professional relationship.”

AECOM regional director for the North and Midlands, Jonathan Moore, welcomed Gerken to the team.

“It’s a hugely exciting time for AECOM in Manchester and the North, as we have just moved into our new office in Salford,” Moore said.

“Matt will play a key role in our work with clients to solve their most complex challenges, helping to deliver sustainable legacies for them and their communities.”

Dallas-headquartered AECOM has offices around the world. Around 580 staff members are based in AECOM’S Salford office at 100 Embankment. Recent projects for the team in the region include the English Cities Fund’s £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan, Sefton Council’s £73m Marine Lakes Event Centre, and LTE Group’s £36m Manchester College city campus.

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800-home Salford scheme deleted from Places for Everyone

Dan Whelan — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:44:58 +0000

Controversial plans to redevelop 74 acres north of Irlam station have been ripped up by the Planning Inspectorate due to concerns about harm to the peatland habitat.

The site, which includes part of the Chat Moss peat bog, was earmarked for 800 homes in Places for Everyone, the Greater Manchester joint spatial plan.

However, following a hearing that went into detail on several peatland allocations earlier this month, the Planning Inspectorate has ruled that the delivery of new homes on the site would not outweigh the harm caused by “the loss or deterioration of an irreplaceable habitat”.

The allocation, which is in multiple ownerships, had already been significantly scaled back.

Following Stockport Council’s decision to walk away from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework 2020, the site was halved in size from 144 acres to 74 with the number of homes also slashed.

Now the Chat Moss allocation has been deleted altogether, much to Salford City Council’s disappointment.

Cllr Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: “We are acutely aware of the need for a supply of truly affordable housing in this area…and we feel this very sustainably located site could have provided a significant number of affordable homes in the most sustainable way, making a positive difference to hundreds of families.”

“There are 4,097 people currently on the housing waiting list and 584 households in temporary accommodation.”

McCusker added also suggested that Natural England, which led the fight for the allocation to be removed, had changed its position late in the day.

“We’re disappointed with the inspectors’ recommendation that the infrastructure-led North of Irlam Station allocation be removed from the Places for Everyone, particularly as this was based on representations from Natural England who substantially changed their position very late in the examination process, despite having had ample opportunities to make their revised position clear earlier in the process.

He said the city council would write to Natural England “to understand its proposals to accelerate peat restoration on Chat Moss, in line with Greater Manchester’s overall aims” but believes the chances of effective restoration are “low” unless the government provides funding.

McCusker added: “The development of this site could have generated much-needed funding for compensatory restoration in another area of Chat Moss so that it could act as an ecological asset and carbon sink, which would be very unlikely to happen without government funding or the possibility of carbon offsetting funding.

“This is particularly the case given national government’s apparent commitment to continue its austerity agenda with a disproportionate impact on local authorities and its rowing back on the priority being given to tackling climate change in both policy and resource terms.”

While the Irlam allocation was binned, the other peat sites discussed at the hearings have been retained within the Places for Everyone plan. These are:

Port of Salford extension – 267 acres earmarked for 3.4m sq ft of industrial space
East of Boothstown – 350 homes across 74 acres being led by Peel L&P
Ashton Moss West – 143 acres between Droylsden and Ashton earmarked for a 1.7m sq ft employment scheme
New Carrington – 4,500 homes and 4m sq ft of employment space
Heywood/Pilsworth – land allocated for the creation of Atom Valley, a 17m sq ft advanced manufacturing cluster

These projects can go ahead because, according to inspectors, their benefits outweigh the harm to the peat bogs. Modifications have been suggested so as to minimise the impact on the habitat.

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Gambling company moves to Exchange Quay

Dan Whelan — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:52:30 +0000

IGT has relocated from Quay West to a 10,800 sq ft office at Building One within the Salford campus.

The video game developer has signed a 10-year lease on the second floor of the building.

IGT is relocating its Manchester team to Exchange Quay from the distinctive Quay West building a short distance away as part of a move to accommodate agile working.

Other recent arrivals at Exchange Quay include flexible workspace provider Serendipity Labs and University Campus of Football Business and Global Institute of Sport.

Exchange Quay, which provides 435,000 sq ft of office accommodation, is owned by funds advised by Ekistics Property Advisors and is managed by Till Asset Management.

Les Lang, director at Till AM, said: “This is the best office campus in Manchester with a wide range of amenities designed to suit the requirements of the corporate occupier.

“The further investments we are making to improve the environmental footprint of the campus are a reflection of our determination to keep Exchange Quay as the best location for corporate office occupiers.”

Canning O’Neill and Colliers are the agents at Exchange Quay. Edwards & Co acted on behalf of IGT.

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VIDEO | Crafting innovation hubs

Julia Hatmaker — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:48:46 +0000

Using MediaCity as a case study, this roundtable discussion between developers, academics, SMEs, and local authorities explores the role place has in driving innovation.

Participants

Artur Grzybowski, innovation director at Salford Innovation Forum
Derek Hales, lecturer in architecture at the University of Salford
Laura Harper, digital, commerce, and creative partner at Lewis Silkin
Anthony Hatton, innovation programme director at MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
Stephen Kirk, head of asset management for MediaCity
Nigel Moore, production director at Fuzzy Duck
Audrey Peers, head of business development at MIDAS
Adrian Toland, senior principal for innovation policy and strategy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Matt Wall, technology, architectural, and cyber lead at Salford City Council
Chaired by Paul Unger, publisher of Place North

Key talking points

Innovation hubs are meant to be the central point where new technologies emerge and businesses grow from a seed of an idea to a full-blown tree of success. So how do we craft spaces where businesses can come, learn, and grow?

This roundtable discussion, sponsored by MediaCity, looked into what occupiers, government, and landlords were after when it comes to crafting innovation hubs.

One of the key takeaways was the importance of location, having a place that was close to universities and that could pull in a diverse amount of talent. Because these spaces need to also function as recruitment tools, the importance of ESG, amenities, and community spirit cannot be overestimated.

Another aspect of a successful innovation hub was flexibility, with options for a business to scale up without having to move too far away.

MediaCity has become a base for immersive technology, including augmented reality that can be used in television media and architecture. The roundtable briefly discussed why this technology was so important – and how Greater Manchester is positioning itself as the world’s leader in this field.

You can hear highlights from the roundtable in the video at the top of this article, as well as on the Place North West YouTube channel. Learn more about MediaCity at mediacityuk.co.uk.

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Salford seeks contractor for £60m Ordsall resi

Dan Whelan — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:32:34 +0000

A contractor to build around 300 homes across two sites is being sought.

Salford City Council is due to begin the search for a contractor to build out the £60m residential development, which would be owned and operated by Derive, the authority’s housing delivery vehicle and registered provider.

The homes would be built on two sites totalling just shy of 10 acres off Robert Hall Street and West Park Street in the Ordsall area of the city.

The plots have long been earmarked by the city council for redevelopment into housing and were previously marketed for sale alongside two smaller ones fronting Ordsall Lane.

However, in early 2021, the authority opted not to accept any of the six bids it had received for the land, opting instead to go down the self-build route.

A report published at the time said that “financial analysis identifies that a “self-build” option could represent the best value for money option for the city council…and that such an approach provides the opportunity to deliver significant numbers of properties as part of the Derive Housing Company ambitions.”

Salford City Council expects to submit a planning application for the 300 Ordsall homes later this year.

The scheme is being project managed by Identity Consult, which was appointed by Salford City Council to lead on the development last April, winning a £427,000 contract. LK Group conducted the ground investigation on the project.

The Ordsall has seen several large schemes come forward in recent years including Berkeley Square, Dock 5, and Bridgewater Wharf.

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PLANNING | Salford says yes to Salboy and Domis’ 26-storey tower

Sophie Rennie — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:46:20 +0000

Obsidian will deliver 250 flats off William Street. Also at yesterday’s planning committee meeting, ECF secured the seal of approval to provide 100 affordable apartments off Peru Street along with UA92’s plans to revitalise Baskerville House to create a business hub.

Land bounded by Trinity Way and William Street

Application number: 23/81487/FUL

Salboy and Domis’ Obsidian will progress following the green light from councillors to create 250 flats and almost 1,000 sq ft of commercial space on the site of a surface-level car park.

Euan Kellie Property Solutions submitted the approved application on behalf of Trinity 2, a Salboy and Domis SPV.

Designed by Studio Power, the scheme will feature 93 one-, 111 two-, and 15 three-bedroom apartments, as well as 31 studios.

None of these homes will be affordable however the applicant has agreed to make a £1m contribution towards affordable housing provision elsewhere in Salford city centre.

With a construction cost of £53m, the residential tower will reach 26 storeys at its highest point and provide residents with a cinema room, private dining/meeting space, and a co-working area.

There would be no on-site car parking provided, however there would be 125 cycle spaces.

Plans for Obsidian were submitted in April and the scheme has now been approved in line with officer recommendations.

The project team includes landscape architect LDA Design, SK Transport Planning, Salford Archaeology, Design Fire Consultants, and Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture.

E3P is the arboriculture, biodiversity, and ecological consultant. GIA is advising on daylight and sunlight. Renaissance is the flood risk and drainage expert

Obsidian’s air quality expert is IDOM Merebrook. The energy and sustainability consultant is Novco. Jameson Acoustics is the noise consultant and ArcAero is the wind expert. ARTAL is the project manager.

Houses will be designed to Passivhaus standards. Credit: via Muse

Peru Street

Application number: 23/81676/FUL

English Cities Fund can now progress its plans to start on site next year to deliver 100 affordable apartments as part of its £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan.

ECF is a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England.

The JV will create a part five-, part six-storey apartment block on the vacant car park site off Peru Street, which once served the University of Salford’s Centenary Building.

The Buttress-designed scheme will feature 55 one- and 45 two-bedroom flats, of which four will be accessible.

Homes would be built to Passivhaus standards, which aims to reduce properties’ energy consumption by around 90% compared to traditional housing.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said: “People in Salford are desperate for high-quality affordable homes.

“Making them to Passivhaus standards, which are hugely energy efficient, mean that in this cost-of-living crisis people who are already struggling can save huge amounts on their energy bills.”

Residents will have access to five accessible car parking bays, all of which would be fitted with electric vehicle charging points, as well as 100 cycle spaces.

Plans were submitted for the approved project in May. Salford City Council’s decision to progress the application was made in line with officer recommendations.

CBRE is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is landscape architect Re-form and transport consultant Hydrock.

Peru Street is the second affordable housing development to brought forward by ECF as part of the Salford Crescent masterplan.

In February 2022, work started on the JV’s Greenhaus scheme to deliver 96 flats off Chapel Street, also designed by Buttress. Greenhaus is due to complete in March 2024.

Joe Stockton, development manager at ECF, said: “We’ve applied our learnings from Greenhaus onto Peru Street and we look forward to creating more sustainable, affordable homes for the people of Salford.

“As a business and as a partnership, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to create future-proofed places that respond to the climate and cost of living crises”, he continued.

“Our work at Salford Crescent will exceed this through a holistic approach that will benefit everyone in the long term, bring people together, and connect them to some of the stunning green and blue assets Salford has to offer.”

Alison Haigh, associate at Buttress, said: “With climate change and the cost of living such critical issues, Buttress are extremely proud to design a second collection of Passivhaus affordable apartments for the English Cities Fund.

“The scheme builds on the success and experience of Greenhaus – the pioneering Passivhaus-certified development due to be completed in March 2024.”

The wider Salford Crescent masterplan is a collaboration between Salford City Council and Salford University, which covers 240 acres in the city. The masterplan includes proposals to build 2.4m sq ft of research and industry space, a 165,000 sq ft hotel, 145,000 sq ft of retail, and more than 2,650 homes.

This month, EFC also submitted plans for a 1.7m sq ft innovation district and 933 homes in the regeneration zone.

The entire building was previously occupied by AO. Credit: via This is Future

Baskerville House

Application number: 23/81819/COU

The 37,000 sq ft office building off Browncross Street will be taken over by higher education institution UA92 and converted into an educational facility following the city council’s approval.

Bruntwood Works’ Baskerville House will feature a five-storey business school to be operated by UA92, which was founded by Lancaster University and the Class of ’92 in 2019.

The scheme was approved in line with officer recommendations to progress plans for the facility, which will cater to up to 500 students a day.

The building will also act as a central hub for the institution’s collaboration and enterprise with various partners including Microsoft, TalkTalk, KPMG, and Manchester United.

Dating back to the 1960s, Baskerville House was previously occupied by white goods retailer AO. The company signed an 11-year lease on the whole building in August 2017 before slashing its office space by 80% in March.

Paul Butler Associates is the planning consultant for the project.

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H20 Urban unveils plans for 200 Salford homes

Dan Whelan — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:53:03 +0000

The joint venture between the Canal & Rivers Trust and Bloc wants to redevelop a site off Oldfield Road and Upper Wharf Street close to Middlewood Locks.

H20 Urban’s scheme would see 204 apartments – half with one bedroom and half with two – delivered across two red-brick blocks on land currently used for surface car parking.

The scheme also features plans for a linear park that follows the line of the former Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal to the south of the site abutting the railway line, which has been infilled. The park has been designed by Planit IE.

A consultation on the proposals is now live.

CBRE is advising H20 Urban on planning and AHR is the architect. The project team also includes Chroma Consulting as project manager.

Nick Legget, Northern development director at Bloc, said: “Salford is a destination going from strength to strength and we are delighted to be playing a role in the Crescent area’s continuing regeneration journey.

“We’re excited to unveil our proposals for a high-quality residential development which will make a significant contribution to the delivery of new homes in a highly sustainable location.”

The Upper Wharf Street site is located in the southern part of the area covered by the Salford Crescent Development Framework known as Zone Six ‘The Crescent’. The framework identifies the site as an area that is appropriate for high-density residential development.

There are several apartment schemes already built or under construction in the vicinity. These include Salboy’s Local Crescent, and the first and second phases of Outwood Wharf.

The second phase, comprising 296 homes, is currently under construction.

In recent weeks, plans have also emerged for homes at Regent Retail Park nearby, while Riverside Retail Park is to be levelled to make way for homes.

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Peel L&P inks trio of office deals at MediaCity

Dan Whelan — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:54:16 +0000

The largest of the three lettings saw breakdown service and insurance firm RAC relocate its call centre and 300 employees to 23,000 sq ft at The Vic.

RAC’s deal, one of the largest in Greater Manchester this year, contributed to a 17.5% uptick in take-up in Salford Quays and Old Trafford in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the previous three-month period.

RAC, which is currently looking for a buyer for its 56,000 sq ft former Thomas Street call centre in Stretford, will occupy the whole of the second floor and part of the first at The Vic for the next 10 years.

The space was refurbished three years ago and has been verified by a third party as net zero, according to Peel.

Dave Hobday, RAC chief executive, said the move demonstrates the company’s “continued long-term investment in the RAC”.

“The Vic’s best-in-class sustainability and well-being credentials offer colleagues a better working environment, first-class facilities and an all-around greater experience in a modern and vibrant city setting.”

RAC will join Team17 Digital in the building. The videogames developer has signed a five-year lease extension on its 6,000 sq ft ground floor office.

Meanwhile, The Department of Work and Pensions has secured a 10-year deal for a 9,000 sq ft office within Peel L&P’s neighbouring Alex building.

Simon Lovegrove, senior asset manager at Peel L&P, said: “We’ve seen a real flurry of activity in recent months with almost 40,000 sq ft of lets in total across The Vic and Alex buildings, which are experiencing a real renaissance in popularity.

“Occupiers are attracted by the buildings’ highly sustainable credentials, attractive waterfront setting and the vibrant MediaCity community with all of its amenities.”

CBRE acted on behalf of RAC, Cushman and Wakefield acted for The Department of Work and Pensions, and Canning O’Neill acted on behalf of Peel L&P at MediaCity.

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PLANNING | Salboy and Domis’s £53m tower among schemes set to progress

Sophie Rennie — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:31:25 +0000

Obsidian is expected to be signed off to deliver 250 flats of William Street, while ECF is eyeing up land off Peru Street to provide 100 affordable apartments. The city council is also set to permit UA92’s plans to revitalise Baskerville House to create a business hub.

Salford City Council is recommended to approve all three applications at its planning and transportation regulatory meeting next Thursday.

The scheme would provide 250 apartments. Credit: via planning documents

Land bounded by Trinity Way and William Street

Application number: 23/81487/FUL

Salboy and Domis’s project would see the creation of 250 flats and almost 1,000 sq ft of commercial space on the site of a surface-level car park.

Euan Kellie Property Solutions submitted the application on behalf of Trinity 2, a Salboy and Domis SPV.

Known as Obsidian, the residential tower would reach 26 storeys at its highest point.

The Studio Power-designed scheme would feature 93 one-, 111 two-, and 15 three-bedroom apartments, as well as 31 studios.

Due to a lack of financial viability, none of these homes would be affordable.

Residents would have access to shared amenities including a cinema room, private dining/meeting space, and a co-working area.

There would be no on-site car parking provided, however there would be 125 cycle spaces.

The construction cost for the project is £53m.

Plans for Obsidian were submitted in April.

The project team includes landscape architect LDA Design, SK Transport Planning, Salford Archaeology, Design Fire Consultants, and Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture.

E3P is the arboriculture, biodiversity, and ecological consultant. GIA is advising on daylight and sunlight. Renaissance is the flood risk and drainage expert

English Cities Fund’s plans form part of the £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan. Credit: via Muse

Peru Street

Application number: 23/81676/FUL

English Cities Fund hopes to start on site early next year to deliver 100 affordable apartments as part of its £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan.

ECF is a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England.

The JV wants to deliver a part five-, part six-storey apartment block on the vacant car park site off Peru Street, which once served the University of Salford’s Centenary Building.

Residents would be provided with five accessible car parking bays, all of which would be fitted with electric vehicle charging points. There would also be 100 cycle spaces.

Plans were submitted for the project in May.

CBRE is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is landscape architect Re-form and transport consultant Hydrock.

If approved by the city council, plans for Peru Street would be the second affordable housing development brought forward by ECF as part of the Salford Crescent masterplan.

In February 2022, work started on the JV’s Greenhaus scheme to deliver 96 flats off Chapel Street, also designed by Buttress. Greenhaus is due to complete in March 2024.

The entire building was previously occupied by AO. Credit: via This is Future

Baskerville House

Application number: 23/81819/COU

Higher education institution UA92 would take over the 37,000 sq ft office building on Browncross Street subject to the approval of the property’s conversion into an educational facility.

Founded by Lancaster University and the Class of ’92 in 2019, UA92 would open a business school in Bruntwood Works’ Baskerville House to cater to up to 500 students a day.

Set across five floors, the building would feature a business school and act as a central hub for the institution’s collaboration and enterprise with various partners including Microsoft, TalkTalk, KPMG, and Manchester United.

Dating back to the 1960s, the Salford facility was previously occupied by white goods retailer AO. The company signed an 11-year lease on the whole building in August 2017 before slashing its office space by 80% in March.

Paul Butler Associates is the planning consultant for the project.

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