Urban development is a double-edged sword. In Salford, it has brought growth and opportunity but also sparked difficult questions about inclusion, affordability, and community identity.
Over the past two decades, Salford has seen an ambitious reshaping of its landscape.
MediaCity, once the docks of Salford Quays, now stands as a beacon of economic progress and creative industry, one that remains controversial in the conversation by many in Salford.
Fadi Shayya, lecturer for architecture and urbanism at the University of Salford said: “Progress requires that people upgrade their skills… but even then, many cannot afford the rents that come with it.”
Housing ITV and BBC, MediaCity represents the city’s pivot from industrial roots to a knowledge-driven economy. Yet, this transformation hasn’t been without cost.
Shayya added: “Big developments usually displace people, either from where they live or from their jobs.”
While the docks weren’t residential, the shift to a high-tech and media-centric economy left many former dock workers and alike behind.
Today, the echoes of this displacement are felt in other ways. In Kersal, for example, newer, high-end suburban housing projects by developers like Salboy contrast starkly with the past of the areas urban development.
As rents and property values rise, long-term residents face mounting pressures to sell or relocate.
“The crawling development in Kersal is already creating pressure… it’s just building up” said Fadi.
This creeping gentrification has fuelled fears of displacement and resentment, particularly among those who feel excluded from the benefits of progress.
Salford’s urban landscape is also defined by its unique structure. Unlike Manchester, which revolves around a central hub, Salford comprises multiple smaller centres.
MediaCity and the Crescent area serve as focal points of economic activity from investors, while many feel the rest of the city lacks key funding.
While areas like Kersal are evolving into high-end suburban neighbourhoods, the differences are stark, MediaCity has been described as “hyper-urban,” offering a dense, compact lifestyle for individuals and couples.
While Kersal’s family-oriented developments maintain a suburban feel—albeit at a premium cost which many worry could end up pricing the people who have lived in that area for years out of where they would call home.
“For example, today in the crescent district, you’re talking about average rents that are £1000 or £1200 in a small flat. I mean, that’s more than some people make in a couple of months,” added Fadi
“Because if somebody has been living in an area for for a really long time, and suddenly they were displaced, there’s also a building resentment here, not only because of the economics, but because of the attachment of the feeling of belonging to this area, suddenly you’re displaced, and this displacement is traumatizing to many of us.
The challenge for Salford lies in balancing growth with inclusivity. How can development meet the needs of a diverse population without displacing its most vulnerable residents? Creating “inclusive policies” and addressing affordability must remain central to future planning.
Ultimately, Salford’s story reflects a harsh truth of urban development: progress is inevitable, but its benefits must be shared. The city’s future depends on fostering development that uplifts all its residents, not just a select few
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