Construction of Salford Rise begins

Construction of Salford Rise – a transformative element of our wider £2.5bn, 252-acre Crescent Salford masterplan – has begun.

Delivered by ECF as part of our Crescent partnership with Salford City Council and the University of Salford, the infrastructure and public realm project will remove physical barriers between the communities to the north of the Crescent area, replacing them with walking and cycling routes focused on accessibility and active travel, significantly improving connectivity between these communities and Crescent Salford.

In addition, there will be large areas of new, high-quality green spaces, trees, planting and public squares for pop-up events and festivals.

At the heart of the ambitious regeneration of Salford Crescent is a near five-acre elevated walkway spanning Frederick Road which will enhance connectivity and act as a key gateway between the University of Salford’s campus and the Crescent innovation zone.

Set to stand at 11 metres wide and 220 metres long, it will be a green and safe haven for pedestrians and cyclists, encouraging active travel and facilitating improved collaboration across the development.

Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the walkway designed by MAKE, Planit and Cundall.

Preparatory and ground works will be carried out for the remainder of 2024, while work on the bridge structure is expected to begin in early 2025 and complete in summer 2026.

Partially funded by £13.17m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, Salford Rise forms a key part of our Crescent masterplan which will deliver more than 3,000 homes, 1m sq ft of offices, retail and leisure, a multi-model transport hub, and vast areas of green space.

Commencement of work on the project follows the approval of plans earlier this year by Salford City Council to bring forward Crescent Innovation, another pivotal element of our Crescent Salford masterplan.

Max King, Project Director (North West) at ECF, said:

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said:

“I am delighted that this important project is now moving into the delivery phase. Salford Rise will better connect our communities to the Crescent and University campus and provide transformational change across Crescent Innovation, helping to unlock world-class innovation-led research and development opportunities that Salford residents and businesses can benefit from.”

Vice-Chancellor at the University of Salford, Professor Nic Beech, commented:

“Salford Rise is a great example of innovative regeneration work as part of the wider Crescent Masterplan to benefit our Salford community, connecting people and fostering collaboration between businesses. This work will develop and enhance our local environment and provide vital sustainable travel options for students, colleagues, and visitors accessing our University campus and the surrounding areas.”

ECF is our strategic joint partnership with Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and major global investor, and the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England.