Salford eyes Govt funding for key Crescent infrastructure  

The creation of Salford Rise, a podium over Frederick Road aimed at improving connectivity between two University of Salford campuses, has been identified as one of the city council’s priority projects for a share of Whitehall’s £4bn Levelling Up Fund. 

Salford Rise is a key piece of infrastructure within the Innovation Zone North area, one of seven development zones identified within the £2.5bn Salford Crescent Masterplan. 

The podium would connect the university’s Peel Park and Frederick Road campuses, which are currently separated by Frederick Road, creating “a safe and accessible zone for pedestrians and cyclists, using a shared space surface over the road connecting into city-wide cycling and walking infrastructure,” according to the city council. 

To bring Salford Rise forward, the city council is preparing a bid for funds from Whitehall’s newly-established Levelling Up Fund.

Salford City Council has not specified how much it will be requesting for the project, but bids for Levelling Up Fund monies are capped at £20m. 

The £4bn fund is focussed on capital investment in local infrastructure and is jointly managed by HM Treasury, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport.  

The regeneration of the 252-acre Salford Crescent area is being led by Salford City Council and its development partner, the English Cities Fund. 

ECF is made up of Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England. 

The Crescent masterplan, adopted by the city council earlier this year, also outlines plans to pedestrianise the A6 and create an integrated transport interchange featuring a Metrolink station that would provide connectivity between the university and Salford Quays.  

• Hear more from Salford City Council at the Transport + Infrastructure event on 21 May