Developer submits third phase planning application for housing scheme

Scarborough International Properties has submitted an application for the third phase of its 25-acre Middlewood Locks development.

The UK and international real estate developer and investor is seeking detailed planning consent for 189 new homes from Salford City Council.

Middlewood Locks is a new residential and commercial neighbourhood at the Western gateway to Manchester’s Central Business District and is a joint venture between Scarborough, Hualing Group, based in Urumqui, Xinjiang, China, and Metro Holdings, a Singapore-listed property development and investment group.

This third phase, designed by Whittam Cox Architects, will provide 176 one- to three-bedroom apartments in two blocks, one of 10-storeys and the other 12-storeys, on the Northern side of the canal opposite Phase I.

There will also be 13 canalside two- to four-bedroom townhouses.

Almost all the homes will have their own private outdoor space by way of a balcony, terrace or garden.

This phase will also have a communal podium garden for the residents, similar to the earlier phases. There will be 61 undercroft car parking spaces and 40 bicycle spaces.

The scheme will also incorporate 5,150 sq ft of ground floor commercial/retail accommodation and an additional 4,970 sq ft of offices.

Subject to receipt of planning consent, it is planned to start on this new phase in early 2021 with completion expected in Summer 2023. Phase II was topped out in February of this year and will be completed in 2021.

The 25-acre Middlewood Locks development is now a vibrant waterside neighbourhood where Salford and Manchester, meet.

When completed it will provide a total of 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial space, including offices, hotel, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and gym.

With landscaped areas of green public space, the scheme is being developed around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal which connect to the River Irwell and is a short walk from the central business district and retail amenities of Manchester city centre.

Overall, the site has a gross development value of more than £700m and is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs for the area.

Paul Kelly, development director of Scarborough, said: “This is the next step in creating a reality of our vision for Middlewood Locks.

“This development is providing much-needed homes and will provide quality office space capable of attracting major organisations alongside further retail and leisure space, all in an environment that recognises people come first.”

Nicola Wallis, sales and marketing director, said: “Middlewood Locks is a vibrant new neighbourhood with over 700 residents, Seven Brothers Beerhouse and the Co-op occupying the first phase.

“It’s a great community with mainly owner-occupiers and with a large proportion of our customers purchasing under the Government’s Help to Buy scheme.

“We are very excited to be submitting plans for the next phase of homes, which will incorporate three-storey canalside townhouses, along with a great mix of apartments across two buildings.”

She added: “We have seen an increase in demand for family homes and also from people wanting to downsize at Middlewood Locks, so it’s important that the homes in phase three will cater for this market, too.”