Designs revealed for 23-storey Eccles tower
Working with architect Jeffrey Bell, developer Silverlane has moved forward with plans to build a £50m 272-home scheme in the centre of Eccles, led by a 23-storey tower.
The developer has put in an application for the scheme, set to feature homes over three blocks, along with a mix of commercial units at ground floor level for retail, café, or restaurant tenants.
The largest block stands at 23 storeys, while the others are split between three and five storeys. The commercial space, totalling nearly 7,500 sq ft, will face Vicarage Grove, on the approach to Eccles railway station, while a courtyard for residents will also be provided.
Brick cladding is proposed across the blocks with the base of the colonnades at ground floor level to be in a darker grey or black masonry. None of the homes within the blocks are proposed as affordable; this is due to the site being designated as a “mid-value area” by Salford Council, where apartment developments are not required to provided affordable homes.
The plot for the development borders Vicarage Grove and Birkdale Grove as well as the start of Church Street, Eccles’ main retail high street. Current occupiers include a Scape charity shop, Booths furniture, and The Top House pub.
A public consultation on the plans was held in December last year; this received 15 formal responses, most of which were positive, according to the developer’s planning consultant, NJL.
Steven Carnes, development director at Silverlane said: “Eccles is being targeted by developers, investors and first time buyers as it is the natural overflow from the successful adjoining areas of Media City and Salford Quays, Eccles is a completely sustainable market town, with the train station almost opposite the site together with the M602 Motorway.”
According to the developer, the scheme is likely to be determined by Salford Council planners by May this year.
Alongside NJL, the professional team also includes Croft Transport Planning; Arcadis as cost consultant; Booth King Partnership as structural engineer; and REC.
According to Companies House, Silverlane Developments is headed up by two directors: Steven Carnes and Gary Illsley. The company was the original developer behind The Residence in Salford, a scheme featuring two towers of 34 and 14 storeys, which is now being built out by Elliot Group.
The podium viewed from the approach to the railway station
Brilliant – just what Eccles needs to bring a tired but very well connected town centre back.
By Winston
Awful and a criminal loss of heritage.
By Acelius
Eccles is bad enough without this utter disaster adding to it. It needs low level development, not his, it actually has/had some buildings of character. That high street in any place other than Salford could be really nice, instead a massive tower block is being plonked at the end of. I do wonder if there is a single brain cell between the people at that Council?
By Loganberry
Won’t be able to get a seat in the bars around there soon bet all the pubs put the prices up for the yuppies
By Paul
Personally I think we’ve got enough high rises in Eccles. We definitely don’t need anymore there an eyesore. Shove it in Manchester with all the others. I hope the people of Eccles protest this possible future build
By Lisa
Amazing , best thing ever for Eccles , its the only way to revive it
By Andrew
Great development .will look good and give eccles a touch off class .been a long time in the making
By John
I thought the project was for the people of eccles not for another invasion.How can a down an out part of eccles be classed as a mid value area..we need affordable homes not tower blocks for the better off..
By mike
Another development with no affordable housing in it,How do they keep getting away with plans like this.
By Bang on
It is people who make areas desirable.The way to revive Eccles is to give it facilities people want to use in the same way they have revived Altrincham, Urmston, Ramsbottom and others. It should be a no brainer for a place near Worsley, Monton Green and a tram ride from Salford Quays and Central Manchester.
By Elephant
Eccles is rundown and needs a new look but putting high-rise apartments for the privileged is not the answer. Why can the new build not be affordable which is needed more than ever now
By Christine Hutchinson
Amazing development just what eccles needs
By Phil
Fabulous development .will bring a touch of freshness to the town centre.good on the developers for thinking off Eccles.
By Lainie
Would be good to see it get built, but can’t see how it stacks given where values are.
By Oscar
Absolute monstrously, greedy developers. Already enough high rise blocks. Go build somewhere else or design something that fits
By T Clark
272 being built on the car park behind Eccles precinct I just wonder where they will be parking all there cars.
By Barry
We no like this building
By Anthony S
This is the start of something, built on a hardly used car park this is a much needed investment in a poor town centre that has next to no useful shops. Hopefully this will give eccles the much needed improvement to put it back on the map. The building is nicely designed, it will always look out of place but only because the whole place needs improving…
By Rob H
Where are all the new people going to park it’s bad enough now parking in Eccles. Hope they build a multi-storey car park to accommodate all…….
By Max
Since Salford took over Eccles it has gone downhill you only have to see the City of Salford from the late 60s to present. I was born and brought up and in lived there till 1976. i moved down to the s/west and came back to visit and was shocked at the place, ASK THE PEOPLE OF ECCLES WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE AS THEY LIVE THERE
By DAVE