Plans for three ‘signature schemes’ to redevelop Salford during the next 10 years have been announced.
On Tuesday (14 March), three ‘signature schemes’ planned to run in Salford over the next 10 years were unveiled by Salford City Council’s Chief Executive, Tom Stannard.
The plans included developing Salford’s social, economic and environmental landscape, for “progress, improvement, betterment, empowerment.”
The announcement was during the ‘Delivering Fairer and Inclusive Cities’ session at MIPIM, an exhibition, conference and networking event in Cannes, France.
Tom said: “[The council] will show commitment to town centre development but particularly the…need driven by our population growth for a greater level of residential, affordable housing.”
He talked about the recent “gamble” taken ahead of funding from the ‘Levelling Up’ scheme “to acquire the shopping centre in Eccles and the redevelopment of Eccles, alongside that of Swinton…with a focus on residential schemes led in both locations.
“The research and development district that we are developing around Salford University” focused on the innovation of Salford’s living and working environment and the university’s specialist programmes and curriculums.
The ‘Salford Crescent’ scheme is about ‘bringing together industry, education and community over 240 acres, delivering a £2.5 billion regeneration programme’.
Media City is also planned to become “a community united by creativity, where we can imagine, innovate and play.”
Paul Dennett @salford_mayor representing the city as he talks about the importance of inclusive and sustainable economies at the UK cities investors panel event at MIPIM. pic.twitter.com/zuOxMYUCvs
— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) March 14, 2023
As part of Salford Council’s Greater Manchester Strategy for Innovation, Tom said they would be “moving onto the next level of…media and production” in Media City “but increasingly moving into the artificial intelligence and gaming space” by investing in bringing gaming companies to Salford.
The council also said they will begin focusing strongly on “culture and city region festivals…making use of Media City not just as an employment and growth zone” but as a place for people, celebration, culture, inclusion and family activities.
By 2040, Salford’s population is expected to rise to 300,000, “with that comes pressures on our infrastructure, our school systems, our health systems [and] employment opportunities”, said Tom.
Tom explained that the plans aim to: “Create a fairer and more inclusive local economy that delivers greater social and environment justice, where wealth is shared more widely across all our communities.”
The event’s moderator, Jane Healey Brown, asked how we can advocate for everyone in the community in our regeneration projects.
Tom said: “You have to constantly evolve, adapt, broaden and deepen your engagement [and] make sure you’re constantly challenging yourself.
“Particularly…in areas like [Salford] where you’re dealing with exponential population growth which typically comes with massively increasing, population diversification you need to keep asking yourself those questions, you can’t stand still on it.”
You can watch the session here and for a round-up of the full event visit the MIPIM website.
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