Salford Central to showcase 20 years of healthy placemaking as Healthy City Design returns

ECF is supporting Healthy City Design in Salford’s centenary year and is sharing the lessons of 20 years of regeneration at Salford Central.

Organised by SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art, the Congress is taking place at the Lowry in MediaCity until 22 October, for a second year in Salford.

The Congress brings together city leaders, designers, planners, public health professionals and researchers from around the world to explore how cities can be designed to support health.

This year’s theme is “Breakdown or breakthrough? New strategies for healthier cities”.

ECF is sharing what Salford Central has taught it about long-term regeneration. As part of the programme, ECF will welcome delegates to Salford Central for a guided tour later this week.

ECF and Salford City Council have worked in partnership at Salford Central for 20 years. What was once a vast, underused 50-acre site has now become a mixed-use neighbourhood with more than 1,000 homes, workspace for businesses and new public spaces and routes connecting it to Manchester city centre.

Healthy design has been part of that approach. Greenhaus at Salford Central has 96 affordable Passivhaus homes, and Willohaus at Crescent Salford has a further 100. Willohaus has also been shortlisted for Best Healthy Homes Development at the Inside Housing Development Awards. Eden at New Bailey is net zero in operation and home to Europe’s largest living wall.

Wellbeing is part of everyday life at Salford Central too. Yoga Republic began with trial classes at Eden and now runs a studio in the building, and independent café Spice & Grind trades from the ground floor.

The next chapter is Crescent Salford, a £2.5bn, 240-acre masterplan being progressed by ECF in partnership with Salford City Council and the University of Salford. Building on the area’s evolution, it represents the next stage in shaping a connected neighbourhood that brings together homes, workspace, education and public spaces.

Phil Marsden, Managing Director for the North West at ECF, said:

“Twenty years of working in partnership with Salford City Council at Salford Central has shown us that it comes from designing wellbeing, sustainability and community in from the start. We’re looking forward to welcoming delegates this week and sharing some of the thinking behind it.”

Find out more about Healthy City Design 2026 at healthycitydesign.global.