It’s official – more than 3,000 new homes, and “unparalleled access” to employment, retail, leisure, and recreation is on its way to Salford.
That’s because “world class” plans to regenerate MediaCity and Salford Quays have finally been approved this week.
After first being unveiled back in October of last year, and following what Salford Council says has been an “extensive consultation period” with input from the local Salford and wider Greater Manchester community, the proposals to transform the area into an “iconic waterfront destination” that’ll apparently rival some of the finest in the world have now been given the green light.
As well as planning approval, a new artist’s impression image has been released by the Council to show the new “aspirational vision” for the waterfront – which will be the focal point of the regeneration, and form one of four zones.
The “ambitious” plans are said to be inspired by other design-led waterfronts neighbourhoods in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, and Australia’s Darling Harbour.
ADVERTISEMENT
New and flexible all-weather glass-fronted structures and pavilions are proposed as part of the waterfront regeneration, as well as a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside, alongside plans to activate ‘North Bay’ too.
‘World class’ plans to regenerate MediaCity and Salford Quays have been approved / Credit: MediaCity
A new boardwalk and link bridge along the MediaCity waterfront will feature more green space, innovative art installations, and places for people to eat and drink, while the main MediaCity ‘Piazza’ – in which a cluster of 250 creative, tech, and digital companies including ITV, BBC, and dock10 studios are currently housed around – will also be reimagined, with moveable structures that can provide space for a variety of brand activations all year round.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new ‘Living Hub’ will feature sustainable homes, businesses, and so-called ‘convenience retail’, while the ‘Culture and Community Hub’ centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry is aiming to be the cultural, leisure, and retail heart of the destination.
“The reshaped regeneration proposals will support us in delivering a world class destination where people will want to live, work, and learn for many years to come,” commented Stephen Wild, who is the Managing Director of MediaCity, as the plans were officially approved this week.
What MediaCity and Salford waterfront currently looks like / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“As the home of future media, MediaCity’s output is global and its environment needs to reflect its international significance.
ADVERTISEMENT
“While the waterfront is the gateway to MediaCity and the Quays, it’s right that it should compete with some of the finest waterfront destinations in the world, and we’re looking forward to working with our partners to make our vision a reality.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, has called the regeneration approval “really positive”, as he believes MediaCity has always been a “striking development that has caught the eye and imagination of so many since its inception”.
“What’s to come will further cement MediaCity’s position as the place to live and work in the northwest and a must-see destination,” he concluded.
Featured Image – MediaCity
News
Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation
Emily Sergeant
Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.
After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.
The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.
It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.
Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.
We’ve set out major reforms to the UK’s veterinary sector now our market investigation is complete.
Our reforms will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market and will start coming into force later this year.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) March 24, 2026
Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.
They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.
Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.
Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere
There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.
The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.
“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
Featured Image – Pxhere
News
Police release footage of Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest by hiding under a bed
Emily Sergeant
Police have released unseen footage of a Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest and justice by hiding under a bed.
David Dale Thompson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week (18 March) where he was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of residential burglary at an earlier hearing.
The 43-year-old was caught early last year (15 January 2025) following proactive patrols by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) neighbourhood officers across Rusholme and Moss Side, who were in the area due to a high number of reports of burglaries in the weeks prior.
While on patrol, police spotted Thompson ‘acting suspiciously’ while riding a bike just before 5pm, and once officer subsequently followed him to a property on Boscombe Street, before calling for more officers to attend.
After gaining entry to the address, officers suspected something was wrong when they entered one of the rooms, and after lifting up the bed, they found Thompson hiding in the storage compartment attempting to evade arrest.
GMP has now released footage of the moment Thompson was caught.
Speaking following Thompson’s sentencing last week, Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald, of GMP’s Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This was a fantastic example of proactive policing, which has resulted in a serial offender now behind bars.
“We know how devastating a burglary in your own home can be and this shows our commitment to tackling them head on.
“If you have any information or concerns about neighbourhood crime in your area, make sure you speak to us. In the meantime, we have officers on regular patrols in areas that need us the most.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th March 2024 
