A new building in Salford could be the start of huge transformation in the city. The first part of the £2.5bn Salford Crescent masterplan has been submitted to the council for approval, which will see a new ‘statement’ building on a former industrial unit north of Strawberry Hill, close to Peel Park.
It will create a new site for the University of Salford’s acoustics centre, whose research has benefitted companies such as Dyson and the Universal Music Mastering Studios in New York.
Planning documents state the work will be the ‘first scheme to be realised’ in the Crescent masterplan which is based a mile and a half from Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK.
Bosses behind the plans say the building will provide a ‘dedicated and pioneering facility that will re-enforce the department’s position as a national leader in acoustics, at the forefront of teaching, research and commercial acoustic activities.’
North of the earmarked new acoustics site, there are plans for a ‘Collision Building’ with more shared work spaces and facilities.
The wider Salford Crescent project, being delivered by English Cities Fund, Salford University, and Salford council, includes building 3,000 new homes as well as offices and a new pedestrian and cycling bridge.
Salford Rise is expected to open in summer 2026.
The bridge – known as Salford Rise – started being built in November, with an expected completion date in summer 2026 to create an 11-metre wide and 220-metre long space going across Frederick Road and connecting the university buildings.
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said the structure will create “better connect our communities to the Crescent and University campus” and bring “transformational change” to the city.
Meanwhile, Salford Crescent train station is also set to see new improvements as work to build a third platform takes place this year, alongside a £10-million revamp of Salford Central.
Closures at Salford Crescent are planned across several weekends between March and September 2025, with the new platform aimed at clearing ‘traffic jams’ and ‘congestion’ at the station which had almost 1.2m entries and exits in 2022/23.