Spades in the ground at Salford Rise walkway

The construction of a £15m “green gateway” between the University of Salford and the Crescent Innovation Zone has begun.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed as the project’s main contractor. Preparation and ground works will be carried out until the end of the year. It will take until summer 2026 for the £15m project to complete.

Salford Rise, a five-acre walkway over Frederick Road, will connect different stages of the wider Crescent Salford masterplan.

At eleven metres wide, the 220-metre-long podium will provide thousands with a “green and safe haven”, as they cross into Crescent Innovation, according to planning documents.

The project, part of ECF’s £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan, aims to promote active travel by replacing busy road crossings with an elevated, tree-lined cycle and pedestrian walkway.

According to ECF project lead Max King, Salford Rise will form a “pivotal part” of the Crescent Salford development, linking up with Crescent Innovation, and improving the area’s poor connectivity.

Plans for the first phase of the 252-acre Crescent Innovation, providing 933 homes and 1.7m sq ft of commercial and research space, were approved in July.

Designed by Planit, Make, and Cundall, Salford Rise will connect Crescent Innovation to the University and the rest of the city.

Progress on Salford Rise has been slow due to rising inflation, and the structure’s materials were switched from steel to concrete to keep the project viable.

The £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan is to be delivered by the English Cities Fund, a joint venture between Legal & General, Homes England, and Muse.

Designed by Make, Planit, and Cundall, Salford Rise is seen as a key piece of the wider Crescent Salford masterplan. Credit: RMS

The project has secured £13m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Salford City Council and the University of Salford are also involved in the ECF partnership.

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford City Council, said: “Salford Rise will better connect our communities to the Crescent and the University campus.

“[It will] provide transformational change across Crescent Innovation, helping to unlock world-class innovation-led research and development opportunities that Salford residents and businesses can benefit from.”

Vice-chancellor at the University of Salford, Professor Nic Beech, said: “This work will develop and enhance our local environment.”

He added that Salford Rise would provide “vital sustainable travel options” for students and visitors.

To view this application, use the reference 22/79440/FUL in Salford City Council’s planning portal.