Salford launches consultation on Greengate regeneration

Salford City Council has launched a consultation on its regeneration strategy for Greengate, which includes the potential for five new high-rise towers, a public park and boulevard, and spaces for arts and culture.

Prepared by planning consultant Urban Vision and masterplanner Feilden Clegg Bradley, the proposals for the 32-acre site include opportunities for between two and three high rise blocks along Queen Street, Gravel Lane, and Greengate.

There is also an opportunity to develop two further high-rise blocks, one along the River Irwell between Exchange Court and Renaker’s One Greengate, and another along Trinity Way, across the road from The Residence, which is being developed by Elliot Group with Forrest as main contractor.

According to the consultation documents, the majority of the investment will be funded by the private sector, with the council expecting plots to be brought forward by different developers.

An area between Queen Street and King Street, formerly a burial ground, will be set aside to house a public park, with one of the high-rise blocks due to front the new green space.

Railway arches along Norton Street will also be brought back into public use as part of the regeneration.

The masterplan also outlines the new Greengate Boulevard which will run from Collier Street to Greengate Square on Chapel Street.

This represents a major overhaul of the area’s streetscape and will cut across existing roads including Bond Street and Caygill Street, with the intention of improving access between the area and the Victoria Bridge and Cathedral Approach.

A pedestrian square, called Market Cross, on the corner of the boulevard and Norton Street is also proposed.

Much of the public realm will be funded by Section 106 agreements, but the council said council funds and the Greater Manchester Investment Fund, alongside other external funders, will be “imperative to the successful delivery” of the strategy.

The council added it “does not anticipate large scale use of compulsory purchase powers”, but did not rule out “selective use” of CPOs for prioritised development.

The majority of the land is privately owned.

Any development fronting the proposed park and the boulevard will be required to have active frontages, paving the way for potential ground floor retail, restaurants, and cafes.

Lower-rise blocks will be considered for the Collier Street end of the site, while aside from the three potential high-rise blocks, the remainder of the area will be predominately mid-rise buildings.

The draft plans also present opportunities to redevelop derelict listed buildings, including the grade-two star listed Collier Public Baths.

As part of the cultural ambition for the area, the masterplan aims to establish spaces for artists and craft workers in the area and calls for “a significant new musical focus” around the Collier Street Baths.

Proposals include using the building for performance spaces to complement the nearby Eagle Inn and Blueprint Studios.

The area saw a flurry of development in the early 2000s, including the construction of apartment blocks Spectrum and Abito, and while a series of schemes including Exchange Court, 101 Embankment, The Residence, and City Suites are either planned or under construction, the area has remained largely undeveloped.

The consultation opened on 27 November, and will close on 22 January. A public drop-in session will be held at Spectrum on Blackfriars Road on 13 December between 1pm and 7pm.

Subject to the consultation being adopted by the council, development of the area will run up to 2040.