The next phase of Dock 5, a new riverside development in Ordsall, will see 152 new homes unveiled.
The new £53m neighbourhood is named after Salford’s former docklands and will eventually consist of 394 apartments and townhouses.
When it completes this autumn, there’ll also be a state-of-the-art gym, a cinema room, co-working spaces, and dining options, all within walking distance of Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK.
Dock 5 includes an expansive piazza of landscaped gardens as a nod to the area’s past as a Victorian botanical garden.
Residents at Dock 5 in Salford. Credit: Supplied
ForLiving’s development is part of Ordsall’s ongoing multi-million pound transformation into a waterfront community.
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The second phase will open up more homes to renters, after the first 121 apartments were snapped up in just two weeks last October – and viewings are available to book now.
Any profits from Dock 5 will be reinvested back into the local community, with a priority to help end homelessness locally.
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Promising to be an ‘oasis of city living’, each home pitches itself as a calming and stylish space where residents can work, live and play.
The team at Dock 5 says the green space, combined with its riverside location, will entice residents outside to make the most of long summer evenings spent relaxing and exercising outdoors.
Residents and locals have already been able to take part in yoga sessions and prosecco and pizza nights, put on by small local businesses. There are barbecues on the cards for this summer.
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Inside a Dock 5 home. Credit: Supplied
Mark Edwards, strategic lead at ForLiving, said: “Throughout Dock 5’s development, our future residents’ wellbeing has been a key focus for us. We’ve really tried to approach it from all angles – whether mental, social or financial – and facilitate that with beautiful surroundings and social events.
“We’ve put people at the heart of every decision we’ve made here, which has helped us add in those extra touches which will make lives easier – like parcel lockers, cleaning services, an on-site gym coming later in the year and even pet-walking services.
“We’ve been blown away by the interest from local people, university grads, creatives and professionals who are keen to benefit from quality, modern homes that bring city living at prices people can afford.
“We also know that people are increasingly passionate about being socially conscious, so they 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.”
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Rents at Dock 5 range from £853 for a one-bedroom or £1083 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Blue Man Group at The Lowry – odd, creative, entertaining and legendary
Daisy Jackson
The Blue Man Group is a weird show.
It’s weird to watch three men painted blue stare wide-eyed and wordless into an audience.
It’s weird that the blue men then make entire acts out of catching marshmallows in their mouths, or spewing UV paint from holes in the chests of their sweatshirts, or staging a silent blind date between two audience members.
The way they creep around the stage, pigeon-toed and wild-eyed, twitching nervously at every audience noise, is weird.
The way they never speak or smile or break character, even for a split second, is weird.
And it’s weird that this very weird formula has been captivating audiences for 37 years – until, that is, you see it for yourself.
Because every bit of oddness of a Blue Man Group show, including the Bluevolution World Tour currently at The Lowry, is balanced with brilliant comedic timing, genuine percussive talent, and ever-changing stage design.
At points during their show they make music from a drainpipe that they turn into a sort of drum-trombone hybrid.
They make music from cereal boxes and fake smartphone screens, and art from gumball machines and even an audience member.
The Blue Man Group making percussion from Cap’n Crunch cereal. Credit: SuppliedA star moment of The Blue Man Group at The Lowry. Credit: Supplied
The Blue Man Group warms up the crowd by displaying birthday messages or words of congratulations to specific audience members, like an Olympic gold medallist sat in the stalls, encouraging everyone to join in.
They fire out so many coloured streamer ribbons at one point that a child who’s walking down an aisle ends up entangled like a mummy on its way to a 90s rave.
They’re helped along throughout the show by a small, video game-like drumming presence in a sort of blue dreadlocked bob wig, who – to sound very Gen Z – gives me the ick.
There’s a fair amount of audience participation and if you don’t like the thought of a blue man staring at you (even when you try your hardest to look anywhere but back at him) it might not be the one for you.
UV paint and a set of drums are an iconic Blue Man Group stunt. Credit: Supplied
And there are moments where it all gets a bit too weird for my tastes, like when an entire segment is made from the sound of them stuffing Cap’n Crunch cereal into their mouths or whipping neon aerials around.
It’s impressive but it doesn’t actually SOUND good. (See also: beatboxing. Yes it’s very impressive that you can make a trumpet noise at the same time as drumming with your lips but shall we just not).
Still, with 37 years of sell-out success across the planet, The Blue Man Group is a creative and entertaining way to spend an evening.
And honestly, everyone should see this legendary piece of live entertainment at least once.
The Blue Man Group Bluevolution World Tour is on at The Lowry until Sunday 6 October – get your tickets HERE.
Smash-hit Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show returns to Greater Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
A Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show that proved to be an absolute smash hit with Greater Manchester audiences is returning next month.
The pioneering stage production starring the world-renowned Rambert Dance Company first took to The Lowry stage back March 2023, following its world premiere in 2022, and it went on to stun theatre fans in Greater Manchester with a relevant and relatable piece of work that showcases new perspectives, all while still capturing the Peaky plot.
And now it’s all set to return to acclaimed venues across the UK once again this autumn, including here in Salford for its second run.
Written by beloved BBC series’ creator, Steven Knight, with choreography and direction by Rambert’s Artistic Director, Benoit Swan Pouffer, the thrilling stage adaptation sees the stunning Rambert dancers perform to an iconic soundtrack from a live on-stage band.
A smash-hit Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show is returning to Greater Manchester next month / Credit: Johan Persson (via The Lowry)
As well as referencing popular storylines from the BBC drama series, starring Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy in the lead role of Thomas Shelby, this contemporary dance adaptation also includes some exclusive plot points too, as well as characters who have never been seen on screen before.
There’s also a specially-commissioned score by Roman Gian Arthur too, and it includes iconic Peaky tracks from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Radiohead, Anna Calvi, The Last Shadow Puppets, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
“I’m absolutely thrilled the Peaky x Rambert collaboration has been such a resounding success,” commented Peaky Blinders writer and creator Steven Knight ahead of the show’s return to The Lowry next month.
“So many people came to see the show and so many of them were new to live dance, which is why we all wanted to do this, so I’m delighted that the show is back on the road after popular demand.”
Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby returns to The Lowry from Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 October, and you can still get tickets online here.
Daisy Jackson -
12th April 2022 
