Crescent seeks £13m in Levelling Up funds for Salford Rise

Salford Rise is a key part of the £2.5bn Crescent masterplan and will create a pedestrian podium over Frederick Road, connecting two University of Salford campuses with nearby communities while promoting active and sustainable travel at the same time.

The partnership behind Crescent – Salford City Council, English Cities Fund and the University of Salford – has submitted an official bid for the £13m from the government’s £4bn Levelling Up Fund, which is devoted to boosting local infrastructure. The submission itself has been long expected, with Salford Rise being identified as one of the council’s priority projects for the fund back in April.

Salford Rise is part of the Crescent’s Innovation Zone North area, one of seven development zones in the 240-acre masterplan. The Innovation Zone North is a section devoted to research and development. Work is already underway on other key elements of the area: the £16m North of England Robotics Innovation Centre and the £16m Energy House 2.0.

“In Salford Rise, we have an infrastructure project that will foster inclusivity, connect communities and help support innovation across the city,” said Phil Mayalll, regional director of the English Cities Fund. He described Salford Rise as “shovel-ready” and said that set the Crescent request apart from rival Levelling Up Fund bids.

Professor Helen Marshall, vice-chancellor of the University of Salford, highlighted the fact Salford Rise will connect the innovation campus with other more-deprived Salford communities.

“Connecting people physically with new opportunities plays a key role in the development of people and places, which is why Salford Rise is so important to Crescent,” Marshall said.

Approval for the Crescent masterplan was granted in April 2021. The partnership behind the masterplan hopes to secure more than £1bn in private sector investment to build more than 3,000 new homes in the area, 1m sq ft of innovation space, 1m sq ft of commercial floor space and a transport hub.

English Cities Fund, the development arm of Crescent, is made up of Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England.

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