Work begins on Middlewood Locks

UK-China joint venture FairBriar International has started work on site with the first phase of its £700m Middlewood Locks development on the edge of Salford near Manchester city centre.

The 24-acre project will contain nearly 2,000 residential units and 750,000 sq ft of commercial development space, including offices, hotel, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and gym.

FairBriar International is a joint venture between the McCabe family’s Scarborough Group International, Hualing Group, based in Urumqui, Xinjiang, China and Metro Holdings, a Singapore-listed property development and investment group.

The work is being undertaken by Beijing Construction & Engineering Group, the Chinese construction and engineering firm, as the Scarborough’s preferred contractor for the development.

The first phases, which were granted detailed planning consent by Salford City Council in December, will comprise 571 homes and associated commercial space, including convenience shops restaurants, canal side footpaths and cycle ways that will connect into the city centre.

The first residents are expected to start moving in during early 2018. Middlewood Locks received outline planning consent in March 2015.

to deliver a new mixed-use neighbourhood, which, in total, will provide around 2m. The development, designed by architect, WCEC Group, is around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal in Salford and is just a short walk from the central business district and retail amenities of Manchester.

Lee Savage, development director of Scarborough, said: “We are thrilled to be starting on site at last. It marks the culmination of many months of intensive preparation and allows the local communities to see for themselves some real progress. The whole team will be concentrating on delivering a development of which Salford and Greater Manchester can be truly proud.”

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I’m really pleased to see the long-awaited development start on this derelict site. Middlewood Locks will create a new community with much needed homes, commercial space and jobs whilst utilising our historic canal system, celebrating our industrial past.”

Xing Yan, managing director of BCEGI, said: “We are proud to be working on Middlewood Locks with Scarborough Group and their partners on what we believe will be a vibrant new neighbourhood for Salford. We are looking forward to engaging with the nearby communities as the construction works progress.”