Dock 5: The new £53m dockside apartments bridging city life and green space in Salford
Dock 5 is located on the waterfront of the River Irwell and has been described as “one of the greenest spots in Salford” - offering access to the city centre on foot or via public transport links.
A selection of brand new apartments at a sought-after dockside development in Salford are being made available to view this month.
Located in Ordsall, just a short walk from both Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK, Dock 5 is said to offer the “best of both worlds” in terms of city life and green space as it boasts a wide array of on-site facilities, with a state-of-the-art gym on the way, communal workspaces, and different resident areas.
Dock 5 townhouses and apartments are available both furnished and unfurnished – with 121 homes up for grabs from October.
Developer ForLiving will use profits from the venture to reinvest into the local community, and build new housing schemes to help end homelessness.
“Our team has been putting the finishing touches to the first phase of Dock 5 and our stunning show home,” explained Mark Edwards – Strategic Lead at ForLiving.
“We’re extremely proud of the community we’re building here in Ordsall and we’re confident people will fall in love with the sleek design, the fantastic location and the opportunities for work and play in a safe, friendly hub.”
Dock 5 townhouses and apartments are available both furnished and unfurnished – with 121 homes up for grabs from September / Credit: ForLiving
He continued: “We’ve put people at the heart of every decision we’ve made here.
“This has helped us add in those extra touches which will make lives easier like parcel lockers, cleaning services, a gym and even pet-walking services.”
Edwards says the development has already generated lots of interest already from locals, graduates, creatives and professionals alike.
“We also know that people are increasingly passionate about being socially conscious, so feel really reassured when they learn about ForLiving’s wider commitment to invest profits back into the community and to help build new schemes to tackle homelessness,” he added.
Dock 5 is being promoted as offering the ‘best of both worlds’ in terms of city life and green space / Credit: ForLiving
Dock5 is located on the waterfront of the River Irwell and has been described as “one of the greenest spots in Salford”.
It offers access to the city centre on foot or via public transport links.
The Ordsall area has enjoyed significant investment in recent years – with more jobs being created in neighbouring MediaCityUK, and hundreds of new homes being built on the waterfront.
It is also known for its beautiful historic manor house, Ordsall Hall and famous musical connections like Salford Lads Club which appeared on the sleeve of The Smiths’ The Queen is Dead album.
Dock 5 is home to an array of on-site facilities including a cinema, state-of-the-art gym and communal workspaces / Credit: ForLiving
Looking for luxury living with “community and connectivity from dusk till dawn”? Those interested in organising a viewing at Dock 5 can enquire online.
Authorities prepare to ‘turn the tide’ on Greater Manchester’s housing crisis
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is preparing to ‘turn the tide’ on its housing crisis by building new homes and protecting renters.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has set out its comprehensive plan to connect communities to new jobs and opportunities, drive up standards across the rental sector, and build new homes – with the latter helping to fulfil its Housing First ambition give everyone access to a ‘safe, secure, and affordable’ home by 2038.
This week has already seen a ‘renewed focus’ on driving up housing standards thanks to the naming of the first supporters of Greater Manchester’s bold new Good Landlord Charter.
New analysis also shows that GMCA’s Brownfield Housing Fund, which was set up in 2020, has already provided grants to deliver more than 15,000 homes, with an average of just over 45% being affordable housing.
But, there’s still a long way to go.
🏡 Today at #Housing2025, we marked a major milestone: Over 50% of rented homes in Greater Manchester are now covered by the Good Landlord Charter 🎉
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) June 26, 2025
GMCA says those recent successes will not stand alone, but rather support plans to deliver more social housing than is lost across the region.
Unlocking brownfield land is what authorities claim is the key to turning the tide on the housing crisis, as since its inception in 2020, as mentioned, Greater Manchester has invested a whopping £135.4 million from the Brownfield Housing Fund to redevelop underused brownfield land, which ultimately delivered thousands of new homes.
It’s anticipated that further funding allocations will come in the summer to supplement those already approved and in the works.
GMCA is also using the power of Mayoral Development Corporations (MDC) – which are statutory bodies set up by the Mayor Andy Burnham, designed to speed up development and attract investment within a specific area – to unlock regeneration opportunities, as these ‘pioneering’ tools bring together local partners and drive forward the authority’s ambitions to build new homes, bring jobs and investment, and support economic growth.
Authorities are preparing to ‘turn the tide’ on Greater Manchester’s housing crisis / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Some of these MDCs currently include Old Trafford (part of the proposed Western Gateway Mayoral Development Zone), the expanded Stockport MDC, and the Northern Gateway MDC (part of Atom Valley).
Together, these three alone are expected to deliver 27,250 homes over the next 15 years to help address the housing crisis.
“If we are serious about securing the long-term success of Greater Manchester, we need to free ourselves from the grip of the housing crisis,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Because of the decisions we’ve taken, Greater Manchester is now building more affordable homes than at any point since the turn of the millennium. We need to keep building on that momentum until we reach a tipping point where we build more social homes than we lose.
“We’re determined to ensure that every person in Greater Manchester has access to the safe and secure home they need in order to thrive.”
Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)
Property
Petition launched to rebuild Hotspur Press in its ‘original form’ following devastating fire
Emily Sergeant
A petition has been launched to rebuild the Hotspur Press building in its ‘original form’ following the devastating fire last week.
In case you missed it, one of Manchester’s most historic landmarks has been left a shell of its former self after a huge fire erupted at the now-derelict Hotspur Press, which is on Cambridge Street beside Oxford Road train station, last Monday (23 June), destroying the iconic building that stood standing for more than 200 years.
It was subsequently declared a ‘major incident’ by authorities.
Thick black smoke clouds could be seen for miles over the city centre from around 4:30pm onwards and into the evening, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
BREAKING 🚨 Huge fire in Manchester city centre right now – historic Hotspur Press is ablaze with major disruption to trains out of Oxford Road #manchester#mcrpic.twitter.com/SnA52oiqxm
At the height of the blaze, two aerial units and more than 100 firefighters were working at the scene in warm and humid conditions.
But for the past couple of years now, before the building went up in flames, Hotspur Press was at the centre of redevelopment controversy, where planning permission was being sought to transform the building into high-rise student accommodation – and it’s these proposals that prompted the petition calling for an authentic rebuild to be set up.
That and the fact that it was announced towards the end of last week that Hotspur Press was to be part-demolished.
A petition has been launched to rebuild Hotspur Press in its ‘original form’ following the devastating fire / Credit: The Manc Group | Jonathan Boswell (Submitted)
Already racking up more than 400 signatures and counting, the petition calls for the historic building to be restored ‘faithfully and fully’.
“The recent fire has robbed Manchester of one of its most iconic and historic buildings, a cornerstone of the city’s skyline and industrial heritage,” the petition reads. “Hotspur Press was not just bricks and mortar, it was a living reminder of the city’s printing legacy, a symbol of Manchester’s character and soul.
“What we don’t need is another anonymous block of luxury flats that serve investors over residents.
“We are tired of seeing our history erased for profit. We demand that what is rebuilt reflects the identity, memory, and voice of the people who actually live here.”
The petition concluded: “Buildings like Hotspur Press carry the stories of the people who built this city – and they deserve more than neglect, fire, or demolition. Let this be the turning point. Rebuild Hotspur Press, and set a precedent for putting people, history, and place before profit.”
If you’re in support, you can find out more and sign the petition here.
The Manc -
5th October 2021 
