SALFORD'S biggest ever redevelopment plan costing £650m has been approved by council planning bosses.
The Chapel Street corridor, which is the size of 21 football pitches, will include 850 new homes and two new hotels as well as leisure and entertainment facilities.
There will also be a European-style piazza across from Salford Cathedral.
The plan is being masterminded by Chris Farrow, who was behind the regeneration of the Albert Dock complex in Liverpool.
Existing landmark buildings including St Philip's Church - featured in works by LS Lowry - and Bexley Square conservation area will be enhanced by the scheme.
The piazza - St John's Place - would be built next to the newly-renovated Salford Cathedral.
The cathedral gardens will also be open to the public.
Islington Park will also be improved and enlarged.
The plan was submitted by the English Cities Fund with funding from Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company and approved unanimously yesterday .
Chris Farrow, chief executive of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, said: "Today's decision marks a critical milestone in the regeneration of this key area of the City. Over the last two years Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, in close partnership with our public and private sector partners, local businesses and communities, has worked tirelessly on the planning, design and consultation for the Chapel Street area.
"We can now look forward to driving forward the regeneration of the Chapel Street area to create a vibrant, urban centre and a more beautiful setting for its many historical and natural assets."
The floor space for the proposed development includes: 849 new homes, 390 hotel rooms, 24,000 square metres of retail, food and drink and entertainment space and 197,000 square metres of office space.
Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council lead member for planning said: "This is an ambition of local people, local businesses as well as the local council. We are delighted our vision to restore Salford's city centre has been taken a step forward today by the approval of this planning application."
Salford’s £650m city centre facelift
January 21, 2010
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Rob Wilson (21/01/2010 at 19:56)
Mario Barruffo (21/01/2010 at 21:34)
Mario Barruffo
Partington M31
Vote for David, tory land (21/01/2010 at 23:27)
marc carlton (22/01/2010 at 00:15)
When in Rome (22/01/2010 at 00:52)
Leon Weastie, Stuck in a Bockle Over the Mode (22/01/2010 at 04:19)
Just askin?
themanc (22/01/2010 at 07:02)
salfordrat (22/01/2010 at 08:00)
Last night on the local news they said - and I paraphrase - Salford Quays have had their regaeneration, the people of this area are still waiting for theirs. Yes, and they will wait until the cows come home because this isn't for the people of salford, is for outsiders who cant find space in central manachester. They tood away our right to have children in our home city, making an end to Salfordians unless you have your kid in the front room on a couch, like the 1930's - now they want to carry on 're-generating' us right out of our city.
Marquis de Sade et la petit monge tout (22/01/2010 at 08:47)
Higgs Boson, Greater Manchester (22/01/2010 at 09:04)
How do you know what my ambition is?
andy waytomakeacomment, Greater Manchester (22/01/2010 at 09:55)
Re. housing requirements in Salford and the Council's strategic considerations have this may be addressed. Please see my post and link under the following MEN article...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1189220_goahead_for_salford_shopping_scheme
Kevin Ashcroft (22/01/2010 at 10:11)
But I'm all for any redevelopment which can improve a place, it's infrastructure and overall image to outsiders.
Bring it on.
Kevin Ashcroft (22/01/2010 at 10:18)
salfordrat (22/01/2010 at 12:20)
Higgs Boson, Greater Manchester
I don't, whats more I don't care. Very much like the people who have come up with this re-generation scheme. I do care about Salford though, and the people of Salford - including my friends and family who have been natives of the city for several generations and gotten nothing but the short end of the stick, despite decades of hard work and sacrifice.
Further to your ambition - is it relevent? Your names suggests you are more mancunian than Salfordian?
Irlam is Red not Blue, support your local team!!, Irlam, Manchester (22/01/2010 at 12:20)
Oops ………sorry I made the mistake of thinking the council cared about anywhere other than central Salford.
Higgs Boson, Greater Manchester (22/01/2010 at 12:49)
Get involved in your local community committee if you want your ambition to have a voice rather than via this forum.
Almighty God, Salford - vote Green (22/01/2010 at 13:30)
gentrification at its finest. at least make some kind of real industry while they're at it, other than service.
not only that, it bet its built by polish folk, i've got nothing against them, we've all gotta work, but come on, local jobs for locals. built by poles, rented by cockneys.
Dean, Swinton (22/01/2010 at 13:33)
steve grimsley, Perth (22/01/2010 at 14:14)
You can change the facade but not the inside.
Regent Road exile these days
Marquis de Sade et la petit monge tout (22/01/2010 at 16:44)
bradmcr, Salford (22/01/2010 at 16:58)
harryl5, bispham blackpool (23/01/2010 at 12:13)
not a city ie yorkshire a county york a city
there are and ha be allowed a true names been since the first salford proud salfordians with self respect dignity. city of mancheter and next door city of slford. will we so will this new area be slford or a deceitfull manchester name pinching salford as we have seen iun the past in this area
Schwyz (23/01/2010 at 16:49)
BillyJ (23/01/2010 at 23:01)
There has been boom times for the past 15 years and nothing was done, how will it be completed in a recession, or for a long time untill there is more confidence in the market. As for more homes, shouldnt the ones completed but laying empty in Manchester and at Salford Quays be sold and brought into use before building new ones?
What evidence is there that more office space is required also as the boomtimes produced more office space than is needed and owners are having difficulty in letting existing space?
salfordrat (25/01/2010 at 13:21)
Dean, Swinton
Erm...they do not want free houses. They want houses. Period. Council houses, or Social housing is not free mate. You pays yer rent guvnor. And chapel street isn't a disgrace or embarassment to me, why should it be? It should be a disgrace and embarassement to the council, the way they have allowed istoric buidlings to be gutted by fire and turned into yuppie boxes for profit. Dean, you have no idea what you are talking about mate.