Salford design competition attracts global interest

A DESIGN competition run by Salford City Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects for a new footbridge over the River Irwell has attracted 172 entries from 31 countries.

Four teams have been shortlisted for the project which will see a bridge link Salford Crescent to the 17-acre Meadows site which sits next to the meandering Irwell.

It is part of the wider Irwell River Park programme which is seeking to attract investment to the area by making greater use of the Irwell and the ship canal.

The shortlisted teams are: Atelier Zündel Cristea, Paris; Mott MacDonald with Moxon Architects, Altrincham and London; Toby Savage Design Limited with Wolfgang Buttress Studio and LDA Design, Stockport; and Tonkin Liu Limited with Arup, London.

The Judging Panel included Renato Benedetti, McDowell + Benedetti acting as the RIBA Adviser, and Salford mayor Ian Stewart.

He said: “The amount of entries we had and the range of countries they were from is a testament to Salford’s reputation as a modern global city. Professionals from around the world want to make a contribution to Salford’s growth.

“The entries we have chosen are truly visionary for what they could offer to Salford. The bridge we hope to build here will be a crucial part of the area’s future. Huge investment is going into Salford Central and the Chapel Street area – an iconic bridge with a global reputation will sit perfectly with that.”