The unique partnership behind Crescent – Salford City Council, the University of Salford and leading development partnership, The English Cities Fund (ECF) – has been awarded £13.17m from the Levelling-Up Fund to deliver infrastructure project, Salford Rise.
Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn budget and Spending Review announcement, Crescent partners will submit a planning application imminently, with a view to starting on site in the first half of 2022.
Salford Rise is a catalytic infrastructure and public-realm project, which will begin to unlock the ambition for Crescent Innovation by delivering a 11m-wide podium connection over Frederick Road stretching 4.7 acres. The scheme will remove a significant barrier to movement across the wider Crescent areas, enabling the delivery of Crescent Innovation, bringing communities in the surrounding area together, while creating opportunities for all in the city to thrive and prosper.
Crescent Innovation is centred around people, industry and academia, and is a key component of the Salford Innovation Triangle. This area of the masterplan will see a research, development and innovation campus delivered that will sit at the northern gateway of Salford Rise. Work is already underway at three new university developments within this area, paving the way for world-leading facilities at the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, the Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE) building and Energy House 2.0.
The wider £2.5bn, 240-acre Crescent masterplan, brings together the best of the public and private sector to deliver a true 15-minute Salford – a connected, sustainable and inclusive place that blends the city’s rich heritage and it’s progressive aspirations for the future, through the delivery of over 3,000 homes, over 1m sq ft of space to innovate and collaborate, alongside 1m sq ft of offices, retail, leisure, a new multi-modal transport hub with active travel at its heart, set within swathes of green space.
Crescent will also create up to 7,000 new jobs, with more than £90m expected to be reinvested into local communities, through new revenue from business rates realised on completion of the scheme.
Minister for levelling up, the union and the constitution, Neil O’Brien MP, said: “I am delighted that £13.17m government funding is helping drive regeneration forward in Salford. This project will help to improve the look and feel of the area, improve accessibility and boost Salford’s economy.
“We are levelling up towns and cities by supporting innovative and sustainable projects that will bring communities together and help them to build back better from the pandemic.”
Maggie Grogan, senior development surveyor at ECF, said: “Receiving the news from the chancellor that the bid for Salford Rise had been successful is indeed a proud moment for all involved. This strong partnership with ECF, the council and the University of Salford is totally committed to delivering a unique brand of transformational and sustainable regeneration that connects people seamlessly with place, creates opportunities for all, with prosperity and wellbeing at its core.
“We’re excited for the journey, and together with the community, we can forge ahead with our collective vision to create a robust and resilient Salford that’s seen on a global stage as a leader of innovation, collaboration and place-making.”
Paul Dennett, Salford city mayor, said: “This successful bid is testament to the work of council colleagues and our partners at ECF and the University of Salford, who have worked tirelessly on the Crescent project throughout 2020/21, to develop an ambitious new vision for the Crescent area and a range of projects, which will genuinely start to help to level-up Salford. Further capital funding will be required if we are to see the Metrolink from Salford Quays to the Crescent and Manchester City Centre and a transport interchange in the area.
“I am delighted that the government has recognised the strength of the Crescent partnership, Salford’s ability to work with the private sector to deliver real change and the huge positive impact for local communities and innovation benefits that Salford Rise, and the wider Crescent project provides.
“Salford Rise is an ambitious infrastructure and public-realm project that will foster inclusivity, connect communities with education, industry and the wider innovation ambitions of the city. The will act as a catalyst for the university’s institutional role to generate knowledge and learning that can help to improve the lives of local people. It will also improve access to Peel Park, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and the Working Class Movement Library where the history of the city can be celebrated.
Professor Helen Marshall, vice-chancellor of the University of Salford, added: “This is a real vote of confidence in Salford and our city’s ability to deliver on levelling up our communities. Delivering the high skill, high wage economy that the government envisages for the UK requires major investment in innovation and skills. Salford Rise will help realise the potential of Crescent Innovation and connect industry and academia, helping to drive collaboration that will raise productivity, grow jobs and create talent pipelines, as well as unlock further investment to help us deliver on our aspirations for this exciting project.
“But Crescent Innovation isn’t just an ambition, it’s already on its way. At the University of Salford, we’re investing £100 million in science and technology, with spades in the ground on the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre that will be a flagship facility at Crescent Innovation and the completion of Energy House 2.0, the unique low carbon testing facility, scheduled for summer 2022. Salford Rise will help us go further faster and I look forward to seeing it delivered.”
For more information on Salford Rise and Crescent, please visit Crescentsalford.com.
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