Metals trader plans to convert Salford site into 500 student homes

A METALS business in Salford has formed a joint venture to move its base near Salford University to make way for a new student accommodation scheme containing 498 bedrooms.

Manchester Alloys & Metals, which was set up in 1988 and is owned by managing director David Mutch, plans to vacate the company’s base at Meadow Road in Salford on the opposite bank of the Irwell river to the University’s Peel Park campus and build a large student properties development linked via a new bridge.

The firm has submitted a joint application alongside Newcastle-upon-Tyne developer BW Elliott for the project, which involves a land-swap deal with the University that will see the company relocate its operations onto a nearby site at Cromwell Road.

The scheme has been designed to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard by Mario Minchella Architects.

Its design statement said that 448 of the en-suite rooms will be arranged around clusters with shared lounges and kitchen facilities, while 48 will be individual bedsits with their own cooking facilities.

There will also be a central communal hub building containing a management suite, gym, internet cafe, cinema lounge, games room and laundry. The site will also contain secure parking and cycling facilities.

A design statement prepared alongside the application states that the land swap deal “places this scheme in a unique position and has a significant effect on its deliverability”.

“The scheme is an excellent example of collaboration between the public and private sector. Indeed, the University of Salford Masterplan acknowledges that residential accommodation will be provided by ‘third parties’.

“The proposals not only implement the first phase of the provision of student accommodation, without any immediate disruption to the status quo, but also ensure that the success of Manchester Metals & Alloys can continue to sustain and enhance the local economy and employment by relocating to a better site.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made by May 2012.