Congratulations are in order… because Salford has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘City of the Year Award’.
That’s right, the spotlight is firmly on Greater Manchester‘s second city – which is absolutely a city in its own right, by the way, after quite-rightly earning its city status all the way back in 1928 – right now, as it’s been announced that Salford has grabbed a spot on the shortlist for a coveted prize at Estates Gazette‘s annual awards.
The property publication’s annual awards ceremony, the EG Awards, is now its 20th year and is all about recognising the “very best things about the real estate sector”.
Salford has been shortlisted for the ‘City of the Year’ award at the prestigious awards ceremony – which is taking place down in London later this November – which seeks to champion the UK’s cities and celebrate the work they are doing to make them liveable and successful places.
Salford has been shortlisted for City of the Year
The city is setting the sustainability bar nationally with delivery of exemplar office and residential schemes, with communities and quality at the heart
— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) June 21, 2024
As it marks the beginning of what is a “greener chapter for the city”, and continues to work with its partners to build a “fairer, greener, and healthier” community for everyone living in it, Estates Gazette says Salford has made the shortlist for showcasing exactly what is achievable in the future of green development.
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The local city has been praised for helping to set the sustainability bar across the UK, according to Salford City Council.
Impressive business and residential schemes with “communities and quality at the heart” have been particularly highlighted.
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Salford City Council’s Chief Executive, Tom Stannard, says the city is “leading a green revolution”.
Salford has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘City of the Year’ award / Credit: Eden at New Bailey | ECF North West
“[We have a] pioneering approach to sustainable office space, and we are delivering the largest affordable housing programme the city has seen for over 60 years,” he added in a statement.
“Recently, we had the recent completion of Eden at New Bailey, which has the largest living wall in Europe, and is one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings to run, costing just 2% compared to the standard office.
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“Major players in the business world have seen our pioneering and holistic approach and want to be located here. And in response to the growing number of people on our housing waiting lists, we are building affordable homes. The first tranche of 104 new homes were built to Passivhaus standards, which means they are extremely energy efficient, and this reduces the energy bills significantly for our residents.
“We’re proud to be making a huge impact for Salfordians.”
Will it take the title? Salford’s fate will be announced at the EG Awards 2024 in London on Thursday 21 November, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Cundall
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Popular pumpkin patch attraction describes ‘catastrophic’ impact of Storm Boelo
Daisy Jackson
Bates Farm, one of the most popular pumpkin patch attractions in the North West, has shared its heartbreak after Storm Boelo forced its closure on the busiest day of the season.
The Warrington-based family farm said the financial impact has been ‘honestly catastrophic’, after they had to cancel all tickets for Sunday.
Sisters Ali and Fiona Wilshaw, who run the farm, said it was simply not safe to allow members of the public onto the farm in the storm, with ‘crazy’ gusts of wind.
They later shared a video that showed their marquee was badly damaged and many footpaths turned to deep mud.
The sisters said they were ‘heartbroken’ to have to close at such a busy time, but stressed to followers that ‘your safety and our integrity will always come first’.
On Saturday, as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo chased each other across the UK, several people shared videos of themselves getting battered by the weather at Bates Farm.
And it’s pretty clear from that why Ali and Fi decided to cancel all tickets and close for the day on Sunday.
They wrote: “We have put in so much love, energy and investment putting on this event at this scale. The cost to cancel and refund everyone today on our busiest day of the season is honestly catastrophic, but business aside, your safety and our integrity will always come first.
“To think last night we were running round Tesco trying to stock up on milk and now we are in the depths of recovering the site to go again tomorrow. All emails and enquiries are being responded to as quickly as possible and we are doing our best to open up more available slots next week.
“We are being tested like never before, but pulling together in true force. Huge shout out to the whole team and Farmer Fi the absolute queen in any crisis.
“Thank you all for your patience and especially thank you to those who have sent such kind words and support, we are so grateful to have customers like you.
“We will be back tomorrow to enjoy the remaining of this tough season, we are putting in so many provisions with wood chip paths, undercover seating and an indoor barn to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Ali & Fi.”
Anyone who had tickets to visit Bates Farm on Sunday will be refunded, and can book in for another date.
Bates Farm has safely reopened its autumnal experience and pumpkin patch today.
‘Violent’ Salford man jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps
Emily Sergeant
A man from Salford who police describe as ‘violent’ has been jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps.
Kenny Cox appeared at Manchester Crown Court for his sentencing last week (23 October) in relation to the rape of two women – one in November 2021 and one in September 2024.
The 46-year-old was arrested on 8 September 2024, charged and then remanded, before standing trial for both rapes in March 2025.
The trial, however, resulted in a hung jury, so a new trial commenced in August 2026, and Cox was then subsequently found guilty of two counts of rape and one of attempted rape.
It comes after, on 7 November 2021, one of the victims met up with Cox after connecting through a dating app. They went to a property in Salford, and after drinking alcohol together, the victim began to feel hazy and described herself as ‘feeling paralysed’ and ‘unable to move’.
It was during this time she was raped by the suspect.
After she was able to move, she left the property in a taxi and subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Cox was arrested on 14 November 2021 and bailed with stringent bail conditions not to contact the victim. But then, on 4 September 2024, he met up with a second victim, again after connecting through a dating app, and they went to a property in Salford where he raped her before she was able to leave and inform police.
Following the trial, Cox has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, with four years on licence.
He was also given an indefinite restraining order against the victims, and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
“I would firstly like to commend the strength of the victims in this case,” commented Detective Sergeant James Walsh, of GMP’s Salford Criminal Investigation Department. “They have gone through this trial process twice now and each time have has shown incredible courage to ensure Cox was put behind bars.
“He preyed on these women and is an violent, sexual offender.
“I hope this sentence and the subsequent sexual harm prevention order imposed gives the victims a sense of justice to help them try to move forward from this and put Kenny Cox firmly in their past where he belongs.”
Emily Sergeant -
25th June 2024 
