I saw The Crescent... as it could look after makeover
OLD AND NEW WOULD COMBINE IN ‘AMBITIOUS’ £800M MASTERPLAN
THIS is the latest vision for Salford’s historic location, The Crescent.
Its redesign is part of a masterplan to create a new ‘city’ district on 244 acres.
The magnificent red brick Peel Building, on the left, dating from 1896, on the university campus, will remain.
But others, including the Newton Building and the derelict old Salford police headquarters, will soon disappear. The aim is to preserve listed buildings such as The Old Fire Station, Joule House, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and the Working Class Movement Library, while building new facilities.
A conferencing and events centre would be based at the university’s Maxwell Hall.
The revamp of the The Crescent is one part of what is billed as a £800m ‘investment opportunity.’ There are plans for five different development zones; 2,500 new apartments and houses; a new school; a 2,000-space multi-storey car park; and 700 new accommodation flats.
New footpaths and cycling routes through the campus would link up to The Meadow, Peel Park and a new park running behind The Crescent along the route of the Manchester Bolton and Bury canal to the vast Middlewood Locks urban village development.
The A6 corridor, along The Crescent, and Chapel Street, has already seen a revival with new apartments and independent businesses giving it a Northern Quarter feel.
Salford mayor Paul Dennett said: “This is an ambitious masterplan that combines the resources of both university and city to create a truly integrated new city district that will open up new education and training opportunities and provide a host of spin-off benefits to the adjoining neighbourhoods and city region.
“Improved sports facilities open to the community, a new concert and events venue and a cluster of independents offering food and drink around the Old Fire Station will all expand this learning quarter of the city.
“We look forward to sharing this vision and want to hear and understand people’s views.” The Adelphi and The Crescent areas will be developed with private sector partners and a details will be issued in early autumn with a view to appointment of a partner, or consortium of partners, in spring 2019. The five development zones are: Adelphi: Family housing with gardens, a new apartment building and the potential conversion of Adelphi House to residential. This area could also be the location for a new, two form entry primary school to serve the growing city population. The Crescent: A new residential district, shops and independent cafes and restaurants, new streets, squares and avenues apartments, and family homes in addition to the 1,200 already on site or with planning permission.
Peel Park: A University campus for the future, with world class facilities. New development would be concentrated on the Frederick Road and Peel Park campus with three new high-quality buildings for The School of the Built Environment; The Salford Business School and a new Digital Learning Centre. There is also potential for further expansion on a landmark plot behind the Peel Building and proposals for 700 new student bed-spaces.
Health Village: Health, science and technology related teaching and research centred around existing University provision in Health, Midwifery and Nursing. GP practices. These services would be developed for greater public use and access to the university’s the pre-school nursery would be improved. There is also the potential for a new transport interchange at Salford Crescent Station with a new concourse and bridge to the Peel Park Campus.
Innovation District: The main employment area within the masterplan offering high quality space to support the University and Industry. Current low-quality business units would be demolished.