Salford City Council and the University of Salford have launched their search for a private sector partner to deliver the ambitious £800 million masterplan for Salford Crescent.
Salford Crescent will see the University of Salford campus and the surrounding area transformed into a new city district that will include a modern residential neighbourhood, the redevelopment of the University campus, a new industry innovation park and a cultural quarter built around key heritage assets.
University of Salford Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Marshall said: “The Salford Crescent masterplan represents a once in a generation opportunity for a partner to get involved in one of the largest mixed-use development schemes in the UK. It will see the creation of an inspirational campus that will create a natural home for industry – local, national and international, cultural partners, the people of Salford and it will create a city district that will drive local and regional economic growth across a number of sectors from health, technology, the arts, biosciences, the environment and energy.”
“It is a project that will have a lasting, transformative effect on Salford and the wider Greater Manchester city region. We are looking for a partner whose vision, ambition and creativity matches that of the University and the City of Salford.”
City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett said: “This masterplan is not just about development, it is about cultural development, placemaking and economic growth in the creation of a place where people will want to live, work, visit and study.
“With established and extensive parkland and soulful heritage assets, there is an unprecedented scale and depth of place-making and cultural ambition in Salford that defines this area.
“We are looking for a private sector partner who understands the unique social and economic impact that this development will have and who recognises the city’s ambition for inclusive growth and development which benefits the people of Salford.
“We will want to know they recognise and understand the unique social value opportunities afforded by these developments, local jobs and training as well as the supply chain and explain how they can best be delivered through inventive processes and partnership working.
“The district aspires to be a beacon of planning and design, incorporating modern infrastructure and R&D. If it is done right we have an opportunity to drive the kind of development and approach to place-making here that could be a model cross the world.
“The future in Salford is exciting and this ambitious masterplan will bring new jobs, homes and opportunities for now and future generations”
CBRE is leading on the search for a prospective partner. Head of Planning and Development at CBRE Iain Jenkinson said “Monday 13th May sees the launch of our search for a private sector partner to work alongside the University and the City Council to deliver the masterplan ambition. This is a long-term development opportunity, but one with development plots ready to go. Today, we are issuing a Selection Questionnaire alongside the Contract Notice, with a deadline for the return of Expressions of Interest by noon on Friday 14th June. We are also programming-in a short period of dialogue between July and October with a select number of bidders, before being able to identify a preferred bidder towards the end of the year.
