CPO for £600m Central Salford scheme confirmed

SALFORD City Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order for scores of buildings on the fringe of Manchester’s city centre and on Chapel Street has been upheld by a public inquiry.

The decision means the city council and development partner English Cities Fund (ECf) can now progress with its plan to develop more than 2m sq ft of office space – much of it on the opposite bank of the Irwell to Allied London’s Spinningfields scheme. Some 850 new homes, leisure units and retail space are also set to be built.

The council has said the scheme will provide “much-needed” comprehensive regeneration along Chapel Street.

Work has already begun on public realm improvements in the area, including traffic calming on Chapel St and a new bridge linking the central Salford site to Spinningfields.

Cllr John Merry, leader of Salford City Council, said: “This is excellent news for the continued regeneration in the city and is the culmination of many years of planning and work from ourselves and English Cities Fund.

“But, now that the order has been granted the work will really begin, and English Cities Fund can progress its planning applications to drive this development forward.

“This is one of the most historic areas of the city and we want to restore it to its former glory, while bringing in new businesses and tenants who can boost the city’s economy and create sustainable jobs and opportunities for the future.”

The CPO was first isued in February last year and had been opposed by property owners in the area, including a number of businesses which owned properties at the Ralli Courts development.

The nearby Mark Addy pub and the City Wharf scheme also fall under the order, although the owner of the latter has been working with Salford City Council to bring forward a 12-storey hotel and office block for the site.

Other buildings affected include several buildings fronting Chapel Street such as a former post office and The Bell Tower, Peel Park Inn and Ye Old Nelson pubs.

Phil Mayall, development director at ECf, said: “Salford City Council and English Cities Fund are delighted that the Secretary of State has accepted the recommendation of the Planning Inspector to confirm the Salford Central CPO in full.

“This decision marks another significant milestone in the delivery of this comprehensive regeneration scheme.  

“The partners will continue to work together with those parties affected by the order to ensure that any disruption or disturbance will be kept to a minimum.

“ECf is now working towards submitting a planning application for the first phase of development and a further announcement will be made in due course.”