Silverlane in the mix for 55-storey Salford tower
The firm has taken on the role of development partner for One Heritage Group’s long-awaited 542-home skyscraper in Greengate, paving the way for a potential start on site by Easter.
Fresh planning documents lodged with Salford City Council name Silverlane and its funding partner Arlesco Ventures as the developer and client respectively, while BCEGI is listed as the contractor for the 55-storey tower scheme. The companies are currently working together on a 23-storey residential scheme in Eccles.
Speculation over whether One Heritage would deliver the scheme or sell the site has circulated over recent months and years. The development agreement with Silverlane could mark a fresh dawn for the project, which has been in the pipeline since 2019.
One Heritage first won planning permission for the project in January 2020 but has struggled to get on site despite twice appointing contractors for the scheme.
Laing O’Rourke had been lined up as One Heritage’s preferred contractor for the tower, signing a pre-construction services agreement in 2020.
However, the contractor walked away from the project the following year and Midgard was drafted in. Silverlane’s involvement has resulted in BCEGI being the third contractor to sign a PCSA for the scheme.
One Heritage lodged updated plans for the project in 2021 and a formal decision notice for the scheme was handed down last week.
Paul Westhead, project lead for One Heritage Tower, said: “One Heritage is delighted to have finalised the planning consent for the tower and is now progressing the final design work pre-construction.
“There a few elements that need to be finalised in Q1 2024 but it is intended that a start on site can occur by Easter and the project can at last come forward through 2024. This is an exciting final component of the Greengate quarter and we and our development team and partners are working closely with Salford City Council to achieve this over the next few years.”
Silverlane was contacted for comment.
The tower was designed by OMI Architects. Euan Kellie Property Solutions is advising on planning and Layer Studio is the landscape architect.
The latest application for the scheme can be found by searching reference number OTH/2023/0492 on the Salford City Council planning portal.
Wait a moment…a second non flat top in only two days!…is it Christmas?!
By Simon
I’ve been waiting for years for this one to go ahead although that’s an old picture now ..there’s a few more towers around Greengate these days. Great news and should really enhance that cluster and that end of the city centre when it gets built.
By Anonymous
If Giant Skyscraper fan doesn’t turn up soon we’re all going to have a Spartacus moment. ‘I’m Giant Skyscraper fan! …’ ‘No!…I’m Giant Skyscraper fan..!’
By Tall building liker
Boy, Father Christmas may come only once a year but when he does he really fills your stockings…well consider them full ! This is great news love the design. I’m sure Scrooge will be along shortly but I don’t care. Happy Christmas!
By Nick
The whole Greengate area is mess once you get past the vain metric that is the building, yes its nice seeing the red lights on top of the tall buildings from 10km away, but the public realm and spaces between the buildings is a real failure. Hardly any frontages just blank facades, the only ones being the viaduct arches and they’ve been sold off by network rail to developers who are yet to understand the wasted potential of not having them active, and no open spaces. This should of all been delivered as part of development, not an afterthought all in all a bad example of placemaking to show future generations.
By H
I think the article also misses the fact that Sir Robert McAlpine was involved in the scheme for nearly a year after Laing walked away, and again couldn’t get the scheme to work. One Heritage cost plans just don’t stack up, always wanted more for less. Main contractors can’t keep operated on such little margins.
By Realist
Ask for Scrooge and of course they turn up. The whole of Greengate is still very much under development and will be for quite some time yet, just like Gt Jackson st. No reflection on this building though. Great design.
By Anonymous
@ H There are plans underway for the viaduct arches to be renovated and reopened, plus a new public park has recently opened in Greengate. Unfortunately these things take time, but they are happening.
By Anonymous
I was thinking about this building only yesterday wondering what had happened to it and then this appeared. Renaker take note of differences, but also thank you for your service.
By Anonymous
Great news for the Greengate area! Glad to hear that Silverlane & BCEGI are involved as they are doing a fantastic Job on the new build high-raise apartment scheme in Eccles town centre!
By Anonymous
I’d lost faith this would ever happen. Please. Please. Please.
By Tom
Great scheme, but this has been going on for years…
IF the core reaches 25, i might start believing it will get done.
By MrP
The little park at Greengate is nice.
By Elephant
It’s a pity that Salford council are not interested in developing more social housing rather than investing in private dwellings.
By Michael Allcock
Is there a reference number for the fresh planning documents lodged with Salford City Council?
By Drew
Hi Drew – I’ve updated the story with the fresh planning document reference number, but for ease, it is OTH/2023/0492
By Julia Hatmaker
Anybody else noticed the Great news merchants are are mostly anonymous
By Anonymous
I wish pages would show the latest up to date pictures of areas they’re talking about. It’s annoying to see Greengate like this, there’s been a huge development push since that pic was taken. Its the same in London, GMB has a London flythrough in its credits that was filmed about 15 years ago….
By Cristofo
Many commenters are still quite clearly living in fantasy world. This will never get built, not in it’s current iteration anyway. One Heritage Group are now on their 4th Main Contractor looking at this, something tells me it’s unbuildable. Maybe there is a reason why many of the towers in this city have flat tops.
By Big Dub
Yes , an up to date CGI would be nice, that whole area looks a lot different now. A sloped top or even a setback would be nice and shouldn’t be beyond the wit or budget of any serious developer.
By Anonymous
Strange that when this was announced 55 storeys sounded tall. A few years later with several 70+ storeys being announced, not so much. Still like to see it go ahead though albeit keeping that design.
By James
Hello @tall building liker 🙂 I sure like what I see here!! 60 storey buildings will be next…
By Giant Skyscraper Fan