Greengate growth prompts £3m arches overhaul
The Arch Company has submitted plans to convert 10 derelict railway arches on Norton Street in the Salford neighbourhood into food, drink, retail, and leisure spaces.
The landlord’s proposals for Greengate follow similar plans in the Red Bank area of Manchester – with FEC and Manchester City Council’s £4bn Victoria North – where The Arch Company wants to convert a clutch of disused spaces.
Both the Manchester and the Salford projects form part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030.
The Greengate £3m proposals come at a time of significant residential growth for the area.
Renaker is nearing completion of the 52-storey Cortland at Colliers Yard, a 559-home build-to-rent scheme. The developer has another two towers in the works, Bankside and Parkside, while Legacie has picked up the stalled former Elliot Group project in the area.
Vacant for over five years, the ten arches have long been neglected and underutilised and are unlettable in their current condition, according to the Arch Company.
“We see enormous potential in transforming these 10 derelict arches on Norton Street into spaces that local people can enjoy,” said Rob Roddy, portfolio asset manager at The Arch Company.
“It’s a fantastic central location and our investment will help to create a vibrant destination for the people of Salford, while also supporting local businesses and the wider community.”
The Arch Company became responsible for 253 spaces across Manchester and Salford in 2019, after purchasing 5,200 spaces from Network Rail.
This is the biggest concentration of railway arches outside of London. At the point of sale, 1,400 spaces were left vacant and required significant investment and development before they will be suitable for occupation.
The Arch Company is jointly owned by Blackstone and Telereal Trillium.
Town is full of empty units what makes them think these will fill up?
By DH
@DH as it says – hundreds of new apartments are due for completion just across the road, with thousands more to come. Soon to be a bustling area
By Anonymous
You’d think people would be happy the railway arches are being utilised but no, negative Nelly has popped up as usual.
By Andrew
Great stuff. Ignore the perennial moaners, they are never happy!
By Anonymous
I don’t think negative Nelly is from these parts.. lol! Used to make these kind of comments under the Dan pseudonym. This is a great use of the arches in what is becoming a very vibrant part of the city centre.
By HD
Railway arches used to be cheap place to rent, maybe a little dishevelled, low or no rates and allow businesses to operate viably that may sometimes have sporadic incomes…I’m think second hand furniture, mechanics, car washes, fledgling businesses trying out their idea. I hope that while the areas that are being gentrified can rightfully want local arches to be refurbished, that arches elsewhere are not refurbished to a standard where the rent and rates become prohibitive to micro-businesses. A low cost rental space to try out a business idea is seemingly becoming a thing of the past…not everyone has access to a home garage. Maybe we shouldn’t attempt to clean up every place and some places should be allowed to have some “character” and quirkiness…as long as its not a crime hotspot of course.
By Anon
I’d rather the empty units on Deansgate, King Street and all over the rest of town were filled first. there are empty units at Deansgate Square, First Street, Greengate, even with the new apartments
By DH
I’ve lived next do to the arches for 9 years, happy to see the area changing for the better
By Raine
Yes yes alright multiflex.
By SSC
DH – that’s not how the real world works. Moving on
By Anonymous
I mean I think I’d rather take my chances and have a line of new vacant units than a litter strewn stretch of boarded up arches as is the case now. The city is expanded at quite the rate, it can’t be expected that retail remains within the epicentre of the city, more units are needed further out (regardless of occupancy rates at present)
By Anonymous
DH if you’re trying to convince people that Manchester is some sort of deadzone, you’re not succeeding. If anything we need more open space as the city is buzzing.
By Anonymous