GMPF’s £200m Soapworks given go-ahead

Salford City Council has approved both the 578-home mixed-use scheme and a 22-storey development at ECF’s New Bailey.

Soapworks

Led by developer Bankfoot APAM and designed by Chapman Taylor, Greater Manchester Pension Fund’s Soapworks will be delivered over two phases and will revitalise the neglected 8.5-acre brownfield site.

The first phase at the site off Ordsall Lane has detailed planning consent and will see the former Colgate factory reset into 60,000 sq ft grade A office space alongside 78 affordable homes and a gym.

A 12-storey car park with a capacity for 900 cars and motorcycles, as well as 1,000 sq ft of incubator office space across 45 studios reserved for start-ups and SMEs will also be provided.

The creation of public realm on what is currently a surface car park rounds off the first phase.

Phase two of the project comprises three residential buildings facing the water. Credit: Chapman Taylor

Phase two has received outline planning permission for three residential buildings providing 500 homes, in addition to a community centre pavilion and another public realm.

In total, Bankfoot APAM will deliver 578 homes to the area.

AshtonHale has led the project through planning. Crookes Walker Consulting, Exterior Architecture, Urban Green, Core 5, and Roger Hannah are all advising the applicants.

To view the planning application, use the reference PA/2023/0435 in Salford City Council’s planning portal.

Hawkins\Brown designed New Bailey scheme. Credit: via planning documents

New Bailey

ECF’s plans for 189 flats in a 22-storey apartment building on Plot A1 within the £1bn Salford Central masterplan area have also been given consent.

Proposals put to Salford City Council outline the provision of 84 one-bed, 84 two-bed, and 21 three-bed flats at a triangular plot between Slate Yard and Trinity Way, to be complemented by a shared public realm to the site’s west.

ECF will provide 14 units at social rent, 14 at affordable rent, and 10 for shared ownership, equating to 20% of the project.

The approval marks the final residential element of ECF’s New Bailey scheme and will take the number of apartments within the project past 1,000.

ECF submitted plans for the final residential phase to the council in November last year.

Hawkins\Brown designed the scheme. Buro Four, Deloitte, Cundall, Re-form, Walker Sime, Project Four Safety, Renaissance, GIA, Aracero, Design Fire Consultants, and Hannan Associates are advising on the scheme.

To view the application, use the planning reference number PA/2024/1691 on Salford City Council’s planning portal.