In the Salford Crescent regeneration zone, an ambitious project called Crescent Innovation North is set to unfold. It spans 29 acres and comprises a 1.7 million square feet innovation district and 933 residential units. The scheme is strategically located near Salford University, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, and MediaCity. This development holds the potential to become a distinctive and nationally competitive innovation district, as envisioned by the English Cities Fund (ECF), the driving force behind the project.
Julian Stott, the development director at ECF, emphasised their commitment to turning this unique vision into a reality for the people of Salford. He stated that Crescent Innovation North is a significant stage of the regeneration process. It aims to connect communities throughout the city, providing them opportunities to thrive and prosper.
Salford Masterplan’s First Phase Construction
Construction is expected to commence in late 2023, with a projected timeline of 10 years. During this time, ECF plans to deliver several key elements within the Broughton Road East and University Road area. This includes 1.4 million square feet of commercial innovation space, 933 homes, 71,000 square feet of learning facilities, a 260,000 square feet multistorey movement hub with 800 parking spaces, and 25,000 square feet of space allocated for cafes, shops, drinking establishments, and a gym.
All existing buildings within the Crescent Innovation North site, except for Innovation House, will be demolished to facilitate this transformation. Thus it will make way for the new development. ECF has already submitted the project application to Salford City Council. It can be accessed through the reference number 23/81238/OUTEIA on the council’s planning portal.
ECF collaborates with CBRE for planning advice and Make Architects lead the design process. Another significant element of the Innovation Zone is the construction of Salford Rise, a five-acre podium over Frederick Road. This infrastructure will unlock the development potential within the 250-acre master plan.
The overarching objective of the Crescent Innovation North project is to establish Salford as a global leader in innovation, collaboration, and place-making. Upon completing three innovation facilities, including the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, the Science, Engineering and Environment building, and Energy House 2.0, Crescent Innovation North represents a crucial step in ECF’s broader £2.5 billion Salford Crescent masterplan.
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Crescent Innovation North’s Project Scope
This comprehensive master plan covers 240 acres. It thus includes proposals for 2.4 million square feet of research and industry space. It will also have 165,000 square feet of hotel, 145,000 square feet of retail space, and over 2,650 homes. ECF, a strategic joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England, leads the ambitious project, leveraging the expertise of various professional firms such as Aecom, Planit-IE, Faithful + Gould, and Cundall.
The Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with ECF and the University of Salford. He also emphasised their shared vision to create world-class research and development facilities that benefit the local community and businesses. The proposals for Crescent Innovation North represent a crucial element of the broader vision for the Crescent area. It thus aims to transform it into a high-quality innovation environment where individuals can fulfil their potential and thrive.
