A plan for 2000 new homes and 750,000 sq ft of offices, shops and restaurants at a derelict canal basin in Salford has got the go ahead from Salford City Council.
Middlewood Locks spans 21 acres of brownfield land sandwiched between Chapel Street and Oldfield Road.
Consent has been granted for a variety of failed schemes over the past 10 years including a £300m ‘urban village’ by bust developers Valley and Vale and the £60m indoor ski centre SnoWorld.
But after years of legal wrangling the site is finally being developed by Scarborough Group International, owned by the McCabe family.
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The Scarborough Group’s multi-million pound housing scheme will be focused around the derelict Manchester Bolton and Bury canal – the basins of which run through the site stand stagnant and empty after being officially abandoned in 1961.
Towerblocks up to 32 storeys could be built alongside retail outlets offices, delis, restaurants, a convenience store and gym. Work is expected to start on site later this year.
Predictably there is little mention of Salford, rather developers refer to ‘the western gateway to Manchester’s Central Business District’.
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The developers estimate the site has a development value in excess of £575 million.
It is being developed by FairBriar International, a joint venture between Scarborough, Top Spring International Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-listed real estate developer in the People’s Republic of China, and Metro Holdings Limited, a Singapore-listed property development and investment group.
Zerum represented Scarborough as planning consultants.
Simon McCabe, Director of Scarborough, said: “We are pleased to have received this planning consent for Middlewood Locks, which is a real vote of support for our plans to create a new mixed-use community in one of the UK’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan and progressive cities.
“The homes will be designed in a way to make the most of the landscaping incorporating private and public spaces.
“Part of the landscaping strategy is to connect the green spaces with the canal, incorporate a woodland theme and an adventure playground to accommodate the new community.
“Middlewood Locks is ideally located, just a short walk from the central business district and retail amenities, so we are confident that this project will be a huge success and create a fantastic community environment for its future residents.”
Image: By Cowdy Urban Design
