New 18-storey tower block approved despite local concern

A new 18-storey tower block in Salford has been given the go ahead despite receiving over 100 objections.

The high-rise tower block alongside the River Irwell is set to provide more than 180 new flats, none of which will be designated as affordable.

The plans include 81 one-bedroom, 97 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom flats. All of the flats will be rented out by a single landlord.

Salford City Council granted planning approval for the redevelopment of the commercial complex into a residential scheme on Thursday morning (April 4).

The project was passed by the authority’s committee four votes to two despite the objections.

Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, Rebecca Long-Bailey, stated that she was against the scheme at the meeting, raising concerns over the affordability of the flats.

Rebecca said: “I want to ensure my objection is noted today. A decision to grant the application would in my view be unsound.

“It would be a staggering dereliction of duty to approve a housing development of this size that did not include any affordable homes.”

125 residents have objected to the scheme since the plans were originally submitted by development company SI-SI Investments in 2022. Residents have brought up concerns about an increase in traffic, an increase in anti-social behaviour around the site and the chance of local residents being priced out of the scheme.

Katie Daniels, director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions, which advised SI-SI on planning, said: “The proposals will see the redevelopment of a tired former industrial site into a high-quality residential development, within only 400m and a few minutes’ walk of Greengate and the regional centre.

“The client team has worked tirelessly to refine the proposals during the determination period and the final scheme includes extensive landscaping and off-site public realm improvements by way of a riverside pocket park and the delivery of the Bee Network – which will bring meaningful improvements to the area to the benefit of the wider community.”

The site on Springfield Lane sits next to the River Irwell and near to Manchester Victoria station.

To find out more about the development, search for the reference number 22/80643/FULEIA on Salford City Council’s planning portal.