Salford

MediaCityUK makes huge pledge to Salford Youth Zone

Exciting times for Salford and their next generation.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 12th May 2025

MediaCityUK has committed a sizeable new pledge to nearby Salford Youth Zone, becoming a key patron for the increasingly important community cornerstone.

Initial work on Salford Youth Zone (SYZ) only began back in 2023 but is already promising to become an important outlet for so many through the borough.

Set to open later this summer and now with backing from none other than the hugely influential entity that is MediaCityUK, SYZ’s inaugural year will hopefully get off to a wonderful start.

As its own city with the national media hub boasting a huge reputation of its own, its great to get more eyes on and profile behind the project.

Teaming up with Salford Council and Empower Youth Zone (EMPOWER) – the youth work charity behind the already established HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton and the soon-to-open SYZ – MediaCity has become the latest and one of their most generous patrons yet.

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Pledging a huge donation of £100,000, MediaCity will be supporting the charity at large with an extensive volunteering and business support programme over the next four years at the very least.

As a Landsec Futures employability partner and influential hub for the creative industries in the UK, MediaCity are looking to work closely with SYZ and its partners to provide greater access in creative spaces and with local businesses.

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Landsec (who have recently acquired full ownership of the MediaCity brand) are equally committed to creating places that deliver lasting positive impact for both communities and the environment.

As per an official announcement of the partnership, “It joins the growing EMPOWER patron community, funding vital services that enable young people to break down barriers, unlock potential, and build brighter futures.”

Salford Youth Zone – situated adjacent to Belvedere Road and Broadwalk in Pendleton – is set to open seven days a week, deliver more than 200 volunteering days each year, as well as offer completely free membership to support thousands of young people in the city and across Greater Manchester.

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For those who have come across the exciting new ‘FRAMELESS’ exhibition over in Salford Quays, this comes not only in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery but SYZ itself in one of its first big activitations for 2025.

Here’s a whistle-stop tour of the £6.2 million youth centre and activities space.

Speaking in an official statement, MediaCity Managing Director Martin Chown said of the welcome new partnership: “Salford is an important part of our journey, and deepening our roots here reflects our commitment to enriching the communities we’re part of.

“Partnering with EMPOWER will help us continue to drive forward a thriving creative community while s upporting talented young people. MediaCity has become a cornerstone of Salford’s identity, helping the city attract leading businesses and driving investment into the city.

“It’s a bridge between Salford and the creative industries, and we want to ensure local people feel like a career in the creative industries is within their reach. EMPOWER’s arrival in Salford will make a material difference to young people and the wider community, so we’re proud to be supporting the team.”

Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower, went on to add: “Our partnership with Landsec is another powerful step towards our mission to support young people across Greater Manchester. MediaCity sits at the heart of the city, and we want our young people to feel connected to its energy and community spirit.

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“Young people are full of potential but often need the right support to overcome the barriers they face and truly believe in themself. Together, with the MediaCity team and Landsec, we’re working to ensure every young person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and move towards a better future.”

With the recently unveiled ‘Content Studio’ to boot, it’s happening in Salford and another exciting event is also heading back to MediaCity this season.

Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer
Salford Youth Zone isn’t the exciting collab with MediaCity this year.

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Featured Images — Arran Bee (via Flickr)/Salford Youth Zone/Sophia J Carey (supplied)

Salford

Greater Manchester city named UK’s ‘loneliest’ with highest percentage of people living alone

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Solo apartment

One of Greater Manchester’s cities has been named the ‘loneliest’ in the UK, according to the number of single occupants.

Living alone used to be seen as somewhat of a short-term ‘phase’, often between living in family homes or house shares, but today it’s a completely different story, as solo living is fast becoming a defining feature of urban Britain.

From high-rise studio flats, to compact commuter apartments, single-occupancy living is reshaping the character of many UK cities.

While for some, living alone simply represents independence and flexibility, for others it’s more a case of necessity – with wider demographic data apparently showing single-occupancy linked to student populations, delayed family formation, career mobility, and rising house prices that make shared living less practical.

But, with all things considered then, which towns and cities in the UK have the most solo occupants? The ‘loneliest’ cities, if you will.

A new study by Tarotoo set out to identify where solo living is most concentrated across the UK, with researchers analysing 58 cities, examining the number of studio and one-bedroom homes listed for sale or rent per 10,000 residents using Rightmove data – and it was Salford that came out on top.

Salford / MediaCity skyline
Salford has been named the UK’s ‘loneliest’ with the highest percentage of people living alone / Credit: Hilverd Reker (via Wikimedia Commons)

That’s right, Salford tops the ranking with a striking 158.08 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is more than double the figure of the city in second place, and also vastly ahead of the national average.

The city’s rapid regeneration over the past decade, particularly around MediaCity and the wider Greater Manchester area, is said to be a huge contributing factor it in taking the top spot, as this has driven a boom in purpose-built apartments.

In fact, according to ONS data, Salford has seen one of the fastest rates of population growth among young professionals in the North West.

Other northern cities in the top 20 include Lancaster and Leeds, at fourth and fifth place respectively, and outside the top 20 is where you’ll find other northern cities like Liverpool, Chester, York, and Sheffield – with Manchester itself coming in at number 39 on the list.

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At the opposite end of the ranking, Newport records just 2.59 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is the lowest figure in the study, and it’s then followed by Glasgow (3.29), Swansea (3.78), Dundee (4.33), and Stoke-on-Trent (4.51).

Featured Image – Patrick Perkins (via Unsplash)

Salford

Inside the most expensive apartment for rent in Manchester that looks like a five-star hotel

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside the most expensive apartment for rent in Manchester that looks like a five-star hotel

A new apartment has gone on the rental market in Manchester that’s immediately become the most expensive in the city.

The luxurious penthouse has three bedrooms, its own cinema room, and access to an 18m swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room.

Its fixtures and fittings are so lavish, it looks like a five-star hotel – and for good reason, because this apartment actually belongs to the residential arm of a premium aparthotel brand.

Coming in at a mere £15,000 per month (the ‘mere’ was sarcastic), this swish home is part of CitySuites II in Embankment West.

It’s actually so expensive, it comes in a whopping £2,500 a month more expensive than the next most-expensive apartment, which is one of the Deansgate Square penthouses.

The new Embankment West neighbourhood is in Salford, just across the river from Deansgate and Spinningfields.

And while CitySuites is maybe best-known for its aparthotel, short-stay offering, they also have a number of long-term residences – like this particular fancy SuperSuites penthouse.

The pool
The pool
The open-plan living space at the penthouse
The open-plan living space at the penthouse
A huge bathroom
A huge bathroom
The dining area
The dining area

It includes an open-plan living space with a fully equipped designer kitchen, a dining area, and a plush lounge and cinema room, with views of Manchester Cathedral from one of two balconies.

There are three bedrooms, each with hotel-quality king-size beds, a spa-inspired bathroom with rainfall shower, smart technology, high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, and plenty more.

And it gets the future tenant access to CitySuites II’s premium facilities, like an 18m swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room, a 24-hour state-of-the-art gym, and a 24 hour concierge.

The apartment also comes with private car parking, and private lift access.

Tempted (or just nosey?). Have a look at it HERE.

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Featured image: Rightmove / CitySuites

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