First phase of improvements to Salford’s Chapel Street completes

THE FIRST phase of a programme to improve the Chapel Street area of central Salford has been completed with a reception held in the grounds of the city’s Cathedral.

An event which saw members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra serenade local dignitaries and residents  yesterday at Salford Cathedral’s Creation Cafe yesterday marked the completion of public realm improvement works funded by English Cities Fund.

The work involved the creation of green walkways around Bexley Square and the creation of new walkways and gardens to the west of the cathedral. New street furniture and lighting has also been installed and damaged walls, railings and gates have been repaired.

Urban Vision worked as architects on the project, Birse Civils was main contractor and Ashlea was the landscape contractor.

Chris Farrow, chief executive of Central Salford’s Urban Regeneration Company said that improvements to public areas of Chapel Street were important as it is at the core of regeneration plans for the City of Salford, linking Salford’s university at one end to a proposed new corporate centre around Salford Central station at the other.

“It is our vision to re-connect communities by creating beautiful community spaces and walkways by investing in public realm improvements such as this,” he said.

“Today’s event marks the first phase of these long-term plans which, when completed, will reveal Salford’s hidden gems. 

“The next stages of the programme will see improvements underway in the Ordsall neighbourhood this Autumn.”

Plans for Chapel Street involve traffic calming-measures along the A6 with improved public transport links. Funding was secured for this from the North West Regional Development in February and work recently started on site. It is due to complete by the end of next year.

The English Cities Fund’s plans for the wider area involves residential, commercial, leisure, hotel and retail developments. The final scheme will generate some 11,000 jobs, 220,000 sq m of commercial floor space for office, retail, and leisure development, 849 homes and 390 hotel rooms.

Councillor Ray Mashiter, Salford City Council’s executive support member for planning, said: “The Cathedral Gardens have been developed for the benefit of residents and are an important part of the regeneration of the Chapel Street area.

“Public spaces like this will help to attract investment into central Salford and the completion of the gardens shows our plans to transform Chapel Street are becoming real.”