Outwood Wharf tops out

Contractor H&J Martin has reached a milestone at Outwood Wharf in Salford, a £35m, 263-bed apartment scheme set to complete in the summer.

The 18-storey building has reached its highest point, having taken around 10 months to build the projects pre-cast structure.

H&J Martin took over the site last spring after the scheme’s previous contractor, Lagan Building Contractors, entered administration. The scheme is due to hand over in the summer with works now proceeding on interior fit-out.

Designed by IBI, the 263 apartments are spread across a mixed block of six, eight, and 18 storeys, set around a central courtyard. Outwood Developments and Invesco Real Estate are the developers.

More than 3,000 pre-cast units have been installed on the project by contractor SCC Design Build. The company’s managing director Eamonn O’Donnell said: “Our modular precast system generally reduces the programme of works by around 40% in comparison to traditionally built projects and It also delivers real efficiencies.

“These efficiencies are realised throughout all stages of the project and life of the building, not just the construction phase. Pre-cast concrete is not just robust, which contributes to reductions in long term maintenance costs of a building, it is also thermally very efficient which reduced the occupant’s energy usage, energy costs and carbon emissions.  It was therefore a great solution for Outwood Wharf.”

A second phase of the project, also designed by IBI, was approved by Salford City Council in November last year. This comprises three connected blocks of eight, 10 and 23 storeys, alongside 4,000 sq ft of commercial space.