Salford skyline set for new look

Two huge mixed-use developments in Salford – which total more than 500 apartments and a host of retail space – have been backed. One of the two will top out at 23 storeys.The first plans were for a huge residential scheme in Eccles.This mixed-used scheme is being brought forward by Silverlane Developments and concerns a plot bounded by Church Street, John Williams Street and Birkdale Grove. It currently comprises four units, three of which are at the northern end of Church Street, with one off Vicarage Grove.Proposed is the demolition of the existing buildings ahead of a major redevelopment, which would involve erecting three interlinked structures of four, six and 23 storeys. Between them, these would house 272 apartments.Commercial units are earmarked for the ground floor.Approval was recommended and granted.Elsewhere, proposals put forward by Student Cribs – which has operations across 23 cities – to breathe life into The Waterside Village development in Salford were also backed.The application submitted last year noted that the 13 existing blocks on the site are reaching the end of their lifespan as they “do not provide the standard of accommodation that aligns with the expectation of many students” in today’s student housing market.Externally, their appearance has also been deemed as “uninspiring”.Put forward were plans to reconfigure the entire development. This would include refurbishing some blocks and demolishing others, with a number of new-builds lined up, resulting in increasing the capacity from 247 beds to 507; an uplift of 260.Student Cribs noted that it had undertaken detailed discussions with the University of Salford to ensure that the proposals complement the overall student housing strategy for the city.