Salford Council approves plans for new garden bridge

Salford City Council has approved plans for a new garden bridge at Salford University.Designed by Make Architects, the plan will see a 2.57ha space redeveloped to include the new bridge across Frederick Road and Wynne Street as well as the redevelopment of two parcels of land at either end for green space. It will greatly improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. This will see the creation of a new public realm comprising a terraced area of open space containing a series of distinct landscaped spaces and a network of pedestrian and cycle connections, together with plazas and open space with the potential to host events.The development will necessitate the demolition of buildings on Wynne Street, Winders Way and Salbec House; the removal of bollards on the corner of Lissadel Street and Strawberry Hill; and the creation of a new access off Broughton Road East.The multi-span bridge will be approximately 90m long and 10m wide. It will be constructed with a slender concrete deck, containing soil voids to facilitate the planting of trees and other vegetation. A network of steel trusses will sit on top, connecting a series of white concrete piers.The bridge build-up has been kept to a minimum, to provide for a relatively slender structure, and the planting pits make use of the depth of the structural system, together with a slight build-up above the level of the bridge deck itself to provide suitable planting pits for larger trees.The bridge’s north abutment will be formed of structural concrete, but it will be faced with gabion baskets and there will be a green wall along the edges. The southern abutment will remain as exposed structural concrete but will have the potential to host a future public art installation.It is part of the wider Salford Crescent development known as Salford Rise, which promises to bring £200M of commercial development, more than 6,000 additional jobs and £7.5M in business rates. The project was awarded £13.17M in the first round of the Levelling Up fund last November.Speaking at Salford Council planning committee meeting, Councillor John Warmisham said: “When first I saw this project I was very sceptical and thought here we go again, the university putting up a vanity project and I wasn’t supportive. I took a step back and had a number of conversations with the university and people in the area – I have to say my mind was changed.“It is absolutely phenomenal what is happening here. I think it is certainly something that will enhance that area, particularly for the local residents. I cannot speak highly enough of it.”Counsellor Mike McCusker said: “I think it is going to be transformative for the area. It will make a huge difference to people’s first impression of Salford when they come in.”