Capital & Centric has begun construction on its 3.5-acre Digital Village business park on Ordsall Lane in Salford.
The 12 business units range from 3,695 to 3,799 sq ft across a total of 45,000 sq ft.
Capital & Centric won planning approval for the derelict site in September 2013 after acquiring the land from Salford City Council.
The build won £1.1 million part-funding from the European Regional Development Fund in June last year.
The original plans included a pontoon for Manchester’s Water Taxi project, until that switched its focus to the Bridgewater Canal in June 2014.
Williams Tarr has been appointed to deliver the £2.7m contract and work is expected to be completed by August 2015.
The developers estimate the project should create over 100 new jobs.
Planning documents show a 30-metre wide public walkway running through the centre of the development, linking nearby Ordsall Hall with the Manchester Ship Canal.
Capital & Centric is currently on site with three live projects, soon to be five this year, bringing its construction expenditure to £1m per month.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric said: “We’re excited to be on site in Salford.
“Digital Village will not only provide efficient work space but will also complement its surroundings on Ordsall Lane including the beautiful Ordsall Hall through improved access and overall really great design.
“This development is the first scheme that we’re delivering in my home city of Salford, making it very close to my heart.”
Capital & Centric currently have four construction sites underway at Speke Business Park, Tithebarn in Liverpool, Crown Business Park in Rochdale, and the Bunker building at Littlewoods complex in Liverpool.
City Mayor Ian Stewart said: “This is about creating new jobs, new space for businesses and a new boulevard for people to walk between Ordsall Hall and the Manchester Ship Canal by bringing a derelict piece of land back into productive use.
“It’s creating a new commercial heart for Salford and building on the success of nearby MediaCityUK and Soapworks.”
