Salford’s next chapter: how the Strategic Regeneration Forum is driving inclusive growth

With the launch of the Salford Strategic Regeneration Forum at MIPIM 2025, the city is taking a bold new step towards delivering sustainable, inclusive growth beyond the city centre, writes Cllr Jack Youd, Salford’s Deputy City Mayor.

Salford has long been at the forefront of regeneration in Greater Manchester, with landmark projects such as MediaCity and Salford Central defining the city’s transformation over the past two decades. The SRF sets out a clear ambition to extend this momentum to the city’s wider neighbourhoods.

The SRF is a unique partnership between Salford City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Homes England, and private sector leaders Peel Land and Muse. This innovative collaboration marks a shift in how regeneration is delivered, ensuring that major projects move forward at pace while aligning with the city’s vision for a fairer, greener, and more inclusive future.

The Forum will explore opportunities in housing, infrastructure, business, retail, and leisure, ensuring that all communities benefit from the city’s economic success.

Unlike the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation, which some cities have pursued, the SRF provides a flexible and responsive platform that leverages both public and private sector expertise. This partnership aims to accelerate the planning and delivery of key developments and unlock funding to maximise Salford’s growth potential.

By widening the scope of regeneration, the SRF aims to create high-quality places where people want to live and work, supported by the right infrastructure and public services. This commitment to ‘good growth’ means ensuring that new developments contribute positively to Salford’s existing social and economic landscape, rather than simply focusing on volume and speed of delivery.

One of the key advantages of the SRF is its ability to streamline the delivery of regeneration projects. By fostering closer collaboration between partners, the Forum can identify and overcome barriers to development, ensuring that projects move from planning to completion more efficiently.

A crucial aspect of this approach is securing funding from central government, through GMCA and other sources. With a strong pipeline of development opportunities, the SRF positions Salford as a prime location for investment, helping to attract new businesses, create jobs, and enhance the local economy.

Private partners Peel Land and Muse have been instrumental in Salford’s regeneration, bringing expertise and long-term investment to the city’s transformation.

Peel Land has played a vital role in delivering landmark projects such as MediaCity, Salford Community Stadium, and RHS Bridgewater, contributing to the city’s reputation as a thriving hub for business, culture, and leisure.

Muse, with its strong track record in placemaking, has been a driving force behind the success of Salford Central and the ongoing development of Crescent Salford, creating high-quality, sustainable developments that enhance the city’s urban landscape.

As significant delivery partners in the SRF, both organisations will continue to bring their experience and commitment to shaping Salford’s next phase of growth.

The Forum launched with these development partners who have many years of experience of delivering sustainable change at scale in Salford. We have opportunities for other similar partners who share the forum’s ambition to also join and help deliver the city’s vision.

From delivering much-needed new homes to enhancing public spaces and transport links, the Forum is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Salford.

As Salford embarks on this next phase of regeneration, the SRF offers a blueprint for cities seeking to balance economic growth with social responsibility.

By focusing on quality, pace, and scale, while ensuring that no community is left behind, Salford is proving that sustainable regeneration is not just about buildings and infrastructure, it’s about people, places, and the future the area deserves.

• Cllr Jack Youd is Deputy City Mayor and lead member for finance, support services and regeneration at Salford City Council