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
This Manchester suburb has just been named one of the UK’s ‘happiest’ places to live in 2024
Thomas Melia
An annual poll has named the Manchester suburb of Didsbury spot among 70 locations said to be the ‘happiest’ places to live in the UK.
Greater Manchester has got lots to say for itself, especially with its diverse and unique cultural landscapes, as well as various vibrant communities, so it comes as no surprise that one of our beautiful suburbs has been voted in a list of the UK’s happiest places to live for this year.
The survey included submissions from 5,000 people and there’s a lot of love being shown to the neighbouring areas of Yorkshire like Doncaster, Bingley, and Harrogate – the lattermost placed in second in the entire country.
But, ranking 62nd out of a possible 70 places, the distinct and vibrant area of Didsbury has been noticed by Furniturebox as one of the ‘happiest’ places to live in the UK.
Credit: The Manc Group
The results took into consideration good state schools, affordable housing, as well as accessibility to pubs, bars, restaurants, independent shops, retailers and more.
With multiple parks, walking destinations, and top-notch travel links with Bee Network trams and buses easily taking you back into the city centre and out to other boroughs, East, West and Didsbury Village all remain some of the most sought-after areas in the region.
There’s a whole host of indie retailers to enjoy, especially on the likes of the main high street and Burton Road, which effectively serves as its own cultural district, home to vintage clothing shops like Steranko, tailored styling opticians Fox Brothers and much more.
Burton Rd also boasts countless fantastic food and drink spots like The Great Kathmandu, SANTÉ, Volta and Proove Pizza, just to name a few; we’ve spent plenty of time just on this stretch of Didsbury alone.
If you’ve spent even a little time in Dids, you’ll know there’s plenty going on and it’s certainly one our happiest places in all of Greater Manchester and therefore the UK.
You can also enjoy the famous ‘Didsbury Dozen’ right on your doorstep.
Elsewhere, and somewhat unsurprisingly, Shakespeare’s ever-romanticised hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon once again reigned supreme at the top of this list.
That being said, it’s refreshing to see that these locations weren’t entirely related to wealth and similar factors, the survey took affordability into careful consideration.
Cheshire was destined for success with its cracking views and grand properties, as the North West county made waves for the region managing to place in fifth position, holding up against Falmouth in Cornwall which placed in sixth.
Although not nabbing that all-important top spot, Didsbury is carrying the flag for 0161 and showing what all know to be true: Northerners do it best.
A Greater Manchester town could be set to get a train station for the first time in 60 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s been a whopping six decades, but the residents of one local town could soon be able to hop on a train out of there.
That’s because a planning application for a brand-new £32 million station in Golborne – which would connect the Greater Manchester town, in the Wigan borough, to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years – has been submitted to Wigan Council, meaning connectivity is finally one step closer to becoming reality.
In case you didn’t know, Golborne currently has no direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, and Leigh is the biggest town in England without a rail station, while the wider area is the largest and most-populous area in Greater Manchester not connected to the rail network.
The milestone aims to boost access to jobs and opportunities for people in the town and the wider Wigan borough.
NEWS: Greater Manchester on track with plan for first new rail station in over 20 years. 🚉
✅ 90%+ public consultation support for Golborne station in Wigan ✅ Planning application in to @WiganCouncil ✅ Local area improvements and walking and cycling links
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Golborne station scheme forms part of a wider ambition to bring eight commuter lines into the Bee Network by 2028 – of which “significant investment” has been put into.
The application includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station, including step-free access throughout with a footbridge across the tracks and lifts to both platforms, a new hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria, and onwards to Stalybridge, an improved town centre car park, and also new walking and cycling links to the town centre.
The submitting of the proposals comes after nearly 3,000 people had their say on the station earlier this year, with more than 90% of respondents supporting the plans.
A CGI of what the proposed new Golborne station could look like, if plans are approved / Credit: TfGM
If the plans are approved by Wigan Council, work on the site should begin in 2026, according to TfGM, with the new station scheduled to open in 2027.
Mayor Andy Burnham called the submitting of the proposals a “transformative step” for the region.
“It has taken a huge effort to get us to this point,” he explained. “But we have finally reached a major milestone on the journey to reconnect Golborne to the rail network for the first time in over 60 years.
“The proposal is based on extremely sound evidence and huge progress has been made with a planning application being submitted and overwhelming support from local residents.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th March 2024 
