More than 3,000 new homes, and “unparalleled access” to employment, retail, leisure, and recreation could be on its way to Salford.
That’s because “ambitious” plans to regenerate Salford Quays and MediaCity have just been unveiled.
Building on the ‘Salford Quays 2030 Vision’, and outlining what are said to be “four key aspirations” for the waterfront neighbourhood, artist impression images of what the area could look like if the plans are approved by Salford City Council‘s planning committee following a consultation starting next week, have also been released.
The plans and images show what would be a more “vibrant and convenient” town centre – with additional commercial office space, high-quality and affordable homes, and new public areas and green spaces.
Ultimately, developers say they just want to “enhance” the current waterfront space.
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‘Ambitious’ plans to regenerate Salford Quays and MediaCity have been unveiled / Credit: MediaCity
The vast scale of the proposed regeneration project would stretch MediaCity’s current site and double it in size to include the area around Quayside too
Developers say the plans are “defined” by four quarters each characterised by a specific purpose.
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These four areas include ‘The Media Quarter’, which encompasses the current cluster of creative, tech and digital companies positioned around the main Piazza and along the Manchester Ship Canal, and ‘The Waterfront and Gateway’ zone, which will “maximise” the unique waterfront setting with a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside, and some new all-weather pavilions.
There’ll also be ‘The Living Hub’, which is where the more than 3,000 new “highly sustainable” homes would take shape, as well as new businesses and convenience retail.
Finally, there’d also be ‘The Culture and Community Hub’, which is centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry Theatre, and is described as being the “vibrant cultural, leisure, and retail heart” of the whole destination.
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What MediaCity and Salford waterfront currently looks like / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
MediaCity’s Managing Director Stephen Wild said the proposed plans are a “once in a generation” transformation for the area of Salford and its future for the next decade.
He added: “We want to deliver an unrivalled destination which will provide more quality homes, employment opportunities, community facilities, a rich cultural and leisure scene while making the most of The Quays greatest assets.
“We’re creating a place for the people of Salford to be proud of, which is why feedback on the proposed framework from our local community is so important.”
Keen to have your say on the plans? A drop-in event is taking place on Wednesday 18 October between 12-6:30pm on the 6th floor of Orange Tower in MediaCity.
After the launch event, the information boards will then be on display to review for six weeks in the Customer Service Centre – which is on the upper level of the Quayside shopping centre.
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Feedback on the plans can be submitted online from 18 October here.
Featured Image – MediaCity
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Salford confirms another ex-player as new CEO of phoenix rugby club
Danny Jones
As Salford turns the page of a new chapter in its rugby league history, ex-Red Devils player Ryan Brierley has been announced as the new chief executive officer (CEO).
His appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, 24 December, giving Salford rugby fans some fresh hope over the festive period.
Brierley, who played as a full back at Salford Red Devils from 2022 before leaving for Oldham RLFC halfway through last season earlier this year, follows fellow former player Mason Caton-Brown in returning to the team in a leadership capacity.
Sharing the news on his own social media, he wrote: “Incredibly honoured to announce I have been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Salford RLFC.”
His official statement goes on to read: “I would like to place on record my gratitude to the board members Malcolm Crompton, Mason Caton Brown and Paul Hancock for this opportunity. I would also like to thank the RFL and Salford City Council for their continued support.
“Lastly, but most importantly, to the Salford fans: what we had to go through last year was heartbreaking. I think I can speak to the wider Rugby League community and echo the sentiments of all fans that no club should ever go through that experience.
“Thank you for letting me lead this organisation into a new era. I’ve always said Salford people are my people and I will protect this club, with its best interests at heart. It is important [that] expectations are managed, and patience is required.”
He signed off by simply asking for the same support he was afforded as a fan, adding: “I have no doubt in my mind that you will go above and beyond, it’s just what Salford fans do…”
Led by the aforementioned Caton-Brown (a retired winger who played for the Red Devils between 2014-26), as well as another pair of directors in Hancock and Crompton, the Salford phoenix club has officially been given a Championship license for 2026.
Although relegation from the Super League and liquidation after 152 years were dark days for the club, this new consortium has already provided fans with some promising signs.
Besides saving the Salford sporting institution from total extinction, having previous members of the old outfit who know the bones, the stadium, the culture and the city so well is obviously a big bonus.
For now, it is a race against time to get a squad ready for the season opener against Brierley’s last team, Oldham – though contracts for a head coach and several players have reportedly been “pre-agreed”.
Featured Images — John Moorhouse (via Geograph)/supplied (via Rumpus PR)
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Netflix drops the first trailer for upcoming Peaky Blinders film
Danny Jones
It looks like Christmas has come early for TV drama fans and cinephiles, because Netflix has officially dropped the first trailer for the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie.
Popcorn at the ready – even the teaser alone has got us fired up.
ln just 70 seconds, they’ve managed to pull us right back in, and we cannot wait to see Cillian Murphy back in full-on Tommy Shelby mode.
Not exaggerating when we say we have LITERAL chills.
As you can see, they certainly haven’t scrimped on the budget with the first-ever feature-length Peaky Blinders film, neither in terms of production value nor the cast.
Then again, having already hosted the likes of Sam Neill, Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Anya Taylor-Joy and others in the series itself, as well as going on to become one of the most successful BBC shows of all time, they were never going to.
We’re sure you spotted plenty of them for yourselves, but the debut trailer for The Immortal Man gives us not only our first glimpses of now Oscar-winning Murphy, 49, back in the saddle (both figuratively and literally) but also fellow blockbuster Irish actor, Barry Keoghan.
Other big names set to appear in the movie – set for a limited release in theatres before launching exclusively on Netflix – include Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth. It still remains unclear, however, as to how any of these characters will knit into the new season.
It’s also worth noting that the trailer shares a little snippet of the historical context, this continuation of the Shelby story is playing into, as we see what looks to be Nazi figures meeting on screen.
Creator Steven Knight has already confirmed that the plot will fast-forward some years to meet back up with Tommy at the outset of WWII and his ancestral home of Birmingham during the Blitz.
Having already confirmed 6 March as the theatrical release date ahead of it going live on Netflix a fortnight later, the anticipation was seriously starting to ramp; this latest look has only added to the tinderbox of excitement.
What do you make of the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man trailer, and will you be watching it?
Emily Sergeant -
12th October 2023 
