Middlewood Locks 1m sq ft office phase to progress 

A revised vision for the future phases of the £1bn Salford regeneration project also features proposals for 1,000 homes and is due to be approved by the local council next week. 

Last August, the consortium delivering Middlewood Locks lodged an application to refresh the outline consent for a 6.6-acre chunk of the scheme.

Scarborough Group International, 50% shareholder in the partnership, is seeking permission for up to 1m sq ft of offices, an increase of 400,000 sq ft compared to the previous outline consent. 

In addition, a multistorey car park, 1,000 homes and 260,000 sq ft of commercial space – including a hotel – also feature within the revised plan. 

The updated proposals will give Scarborough and its partners Metro Holdings and Hualing Group, which each own 25%, a “a greater level of flexibility when it comes to bringing plots forward at reserved matters stage”, a planning officer report said. 

Depending on market conditions, there are various options for how each site could be brought forward. 

For example, the 1.2-acre Plot A could house up to 530 homes in a building reaching a maximum of 25 storeys, or a hotel of the same height. Alternatively, the plot could be developed into 320,000 sq ft of offices in buildings up to 15 storeys. 

Earlier this year, Salford City Council approved plans for three buildings, ranging from 15 to 32 storeys and providing a total of 900 apartments. 

Phases one and two of the scheme, featuring 1,117 homes have completed and are sold out.  

Work to deliver the next phase of homes, 189 units known as the Railings, is underway.

Beijing Construction Engineering Group International is the lead contractor for Middlewood Locks, Whittam Cox Architects is leading on design and Zerum is the scheme’s planning advisor.