Proposals for a major riverside scheme in a key regeneration area within Salford have been submitted to Salford City Council by Euan Kellie Property Solutions. Designed by DLA Architecture for Crescent Investments LLC Limited and developers Forshaw Group, the proposed scheme is centred on three brick-fronted residential towers comprising 814 homes. Proposals also include a two-storey community pavilion, designed to be used flexibly with the potential for commercial, retail, hospitality and community use to meet requirements of the growing neighbourhood. Significant areas of public space will be delivered within the site too, alongside improved access to the Irwell Riverside Path, enhancing connections to Salford Quays and Manchester City Centre. Following public consultation last year, the scheme has been updated to provide an increased amount of public realm along the front of Regent Road, totalling 6,000 sqm, providing a high-quality arrival space for residents and visitors. The reimagining of the site delivers enhanced accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists to the Irwell Riverside Path, with a well-designed landscaped ramp and area of tiered seating to the waterfront area. The significant investment in the public realm, which frames the three residential towers and the new community pavilion, supports the vision for the site and the wider regeneration of the Ordsall Waterfront Area. James Ketley, associate director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions, said: “This is not only a major milestone in the evolution of Riverside Place, but a landmark moment for the Ordsall Waterfront Area. “The proposed development is situated in a fantastic waterfront location that capitalises on direct pedestrian routes to nearby Salford Quays and Manchester City Centre and will deliver new homes and community infrastructure that are two elements central to the success of a place.” Lyndon Forshaw CEO, Forshaw Group, added: “We have worked to improve our plans following consultation with the local community last year. The final plans submitted are focussed on community integration with the existing Ordsall neighbourhood, providing a community pavilion at the heart of the scheme. We have also been able to increase the area of public realm on the Regent Road frontage for all to enjoy and improve the shared amenity space for the new residents within the new residential buildings”. Jonathan Knowles, Director at DLA Architecture, concluded: “Riverside Place brings to life the vision for the reimagining of the Ordsall Waterfront Area, seamlessly integrating the new development into the existing community, opening access to the Irwell Riverside Path and creating a new neighbourhood that everyone can enjoy.  The architecture and public realm are designed to re-establish a strong physical and visual connection to the Irwell, as well as providing 814 much-needed homes. In total, the scheme introduces over 1.5 acres of new public realm. The Pavilion is conceived as a civic marker within the masterplan, with retail, hospitality and community uses, ensuring this stretch of waterfront becomes a destination. “Riverside Place is about establishing a new piece of Salford that feels open and genuinely connected to the community both socially, physically and environmentally.” The proposals meet Salford Council’s ambitions for high-density, residential-led growth in this location, with the current retail units occupied by McDonald’s and Grosvenor Casino, having been approved for demolition in 2023, to make way for new development.  The scheme is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and £67m in economic value over the three-year build. On completion the plans will bring a £24m boost to local shops and services, enough to support 86 jobs locally and generating £1.7 million extra council tax revenue each year for Salford Council. Subject to planning approval, the new development will contribute directly to the city’s goal of building 9,000 new homes across Ordsall, Quays, Pendleton, and Charlestown by 2042.  Consultants advising on the scheme alongside Euan Kellie Property Solutions include DLA Architecture, TPM Landscape and Font Comms. More information is available at www.riversideplacesalford.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Council extends use of Field First Platform to support frontline operations South Tyneside Council has expanded its partnership with Totalmobile to strengthen digital support across its housing services, extending its use of Totalmobile’s award-winning Field First Platform across services. The expansion reflects tighter regulatory requirements and increasing expectations around service performance and transparency. The expanded deployment will support frontline operatives and is planned to go live in September 2026. The council will use the platform’s job management capability to improve visibility across day-to-day activity, strengthen compliance reporting, and support a wider range of frontline and specialist housing teams. As part of the latest expansion, enhanced reporting and operational dashboards will give managers clearer oversight of performance, workload, and emerging risks across housing operations. Real-time field access to tasks and records will also be extended to operatives covering Healthy Homes, compliance, and specialist services, supporting activity across gas servicing, electrical testing, repairs, and voids, while removing the Council’s reliance on manual processes and improving coordination between teams. “Housing teams across the UK are being asked to evidence more, respond faster and still deliver consistent frontline services,” said David Webb, Managing Director of Housing at Totalmobile. “This expansion centres on the practical realities many councils face, giving managers clearer visibility, supporting compliance, and helping teams stay on top of work as it changes day to day.” For Totalmobile, the expansion of this partnership with South Tyneside reflects a growing trend across housing for unified workforce platforms that support complex, frontline operations. The Field First Platform is used across housing, health, social care, infrastructure, utilities, and facilities management globally to help organisations manage all aspects of workforce operations in environments where services must adapt quickly without losing control. For more information about Totalmobile and the Field First Platform, visit totalmobile.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A developer has been chosen to deliver a new 100% affordable neighbourhood at Birley Fields in Hulme following early engagement with local residents and stakeholders to understand their priorities for the site.  Green community space also is at the heart of the development of the new neighbourhood, ensuring improved biodiversity across the site – including a new garden space, while existing trees will be retained and celebrated.   Following a two-stage bidding process, Glenbrook has been named as the preferred developer to take forward an ambitious programme of investment to deliver a new residential-led development of genuinely affordable housing. The final tenure mix is expected to include options such as social rent, affordable/discounted rent and affordable home ownership, with details to be confirmed as proposals are refined.  Engagement in early 2025 with local residents and stakeholders looked to create meaningful and long-term community involvement to help guide future investment at the site.   The process highlighted a number of shared priorities, including:  Current proposals set out an ambition to deliver 293 affordable homes, across a range of housing types to meet local need, alongside new high quality public spaces. These are emerging proposals and may evolve as designs are refined through engagement and the planning process.   The development will take advantage of modern methods of construction and a fabric-first, low-energy design approach – supported by technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, each contributing to a low‑carbon build.   A green heart to the scheme is proposed through the Birley Community Garden – a generous shared space shaped around growing food, informal play spaces, community activity and improved biodiversity.   A clear strategy has been set out for achieving a biodiversity net gain, including a combination of on-site enhancements and underpinned by an ecological assessment.   Extensive planting will create ‘ecological corridors’ through the site that will create a welcoming green environment, enhancing the biodiversity of the site, where existing mature trees will be retained and celebrated. A largely car-free layout, supported by improved walking and cycling routes, reflects the community priorities around safety and clean air.   While shared streets will bring about a day-to-day neighbourliness, supporting a sustainable long-term community of residents – including a new community corner that will provide space for a future creative hub and neighbourhood workspace. The specific uses for this space will be shaped further through ongoing engagement.  The development will also have strong social value credentials, linking in with organisations already active in Hulme to  support local groups and community-led initiatives – including Sow the City that will help design green spaces through the site, and Venture Arts that will contribute a mural within the scheme celebrating local creativity.   The scheme is also expected to create 71 new full-time jobs, support 90 additional roles, and provide a Hulme bursary through Regeneration Brainery to provide an employment pathway into the construction industry for local young people.   Glenbrook will now begin to refine emerging designs ahead of further public engagement, which will include the formation of a Community Engagement Collective that will help provide local insight and guide proposals ahead of a formal planning application.  Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  “The Birley Fields site has been an underused site for many years, so it’s great to see proposals emerging with the level of ambition and vision that is being developed, as well as a clear commitment to improving biodiversity across the site.   “Importantly, genuinely affordable homes – including social rent homes – are at the heart of this scheme, including quality green spaces and opportunities for the local community to come together. This approach has been guided by local people and it’s important that we continue to engage in the neighbourhood as the plans develop further.   “This is a great scheme for Hulme, one that we know will meet local need and be a real credit to the community.”  Jamie Sutton at Glenbrook, said:  “We’re excited by the opportunity at Birley Fields and delighted to continue our partnership with Manchester City Council as their selected development partner.  “The essence of Hulme is one of resilience and community spirit – a part of our city that has helped shape modern British music, design, and identity. As a developer, we are acutely aware of the responsibility we hold in delivering such an important scheme, one that provides considered architecture and public realm whilst responding to the needs of the wider community.” “ Over the coming months we will be reaching out and consulting with key stakeholders across the ward as we develop our initial concept in preparation of a planning application later this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A consultation is now open to gather views and feedback about the next ambitious phase of regeneration in the north Manchester neighbourhood.  A consultation is now open to gather views and feedback about the next ambitious phase of regeneration in the north Manchester neighbourhood.  Collyhurst was chosen as one of the first focus areas for investment as part of the major Victoria North regeneration programme – a partnership between Manchester City Council and FEC – that will see more than 15,000 new homes across seven distinct neighbourhoods in the coming years.   Initial consultation for future regeneration in Collyhurst completed in November 2025, which provided local people detail about the high level principles of future investment in their neighbourhood – including a mix of different types of homes, a focus on affordable homes within a mix of different tenures – including significant social rent homes – alongside green areas and spaces for the community.   Since then, households within the boundary of the proposed phase two area have been directly contacted to discuss their housing requirements to ensure that they are at the centre of developing proposals.  Now, the whole community will have an opportunity to find out more about the emerging proposals before detailed design and planning takes place, taking the local people along on the regeneration journey – from concept to design.   Based on the development being delivered in phase one, current estimates suggest, subject to consultation and detailed design work, that around 550 homes could be built in the phase two area helping to meet the growing demand for quality, affordable housing in the area, alongside a new community park.  Similar to the first phase of development, the ambition – subject to consultation and planning – would be to make sure a significant number of the new homes will be for social rent to meet demand for quality, genuinely affordable homes in Collyhurst. In phase one, 130 of 274 homes were capped at the social rent level.   The consultation will also gather feedback about the mix of housing types required in the community, new walking and cycling routes through the neighbourhood, and features that could be included in an extended area of the new Collyhurst Park space.   Phase One – the story so far  274 homes are currently under construction across two sites in South Collyhurst and Collyhurst Village, where the first 35 homes have now been completed – including the first 10 of 130 new Council homes for social rent.   Completions are now being phased throughout 2026, and some of the new Council homes will also support residents that moved outside of Collyhurst from the now demolished maisonettes to  move back to the community, into new homes in South Collyhurst – fulfilling the Council’s commitment to those residents who were promised they could return should they want to.   Future Investment in Collyhurst  Detailed proposals for future phases of development will be worked through and developed through public consultation on a phased basis. The focus in the coming years will be to develop proposals for Collyhurst Village, while detailed plans for South Collyhurst will then be developed in six to 10 years.  Victoria North has also been shortlisted as a part of the Government’s New Towns Taskforce, which pledges support to deliver major regeneration programmes. This will support the ambition for a new Metrolink stop at Sandhills, which will help unlock future investment in the wider Collyhurst area, alongside new homes, shops, medical facilities and a new school.   Public in-person consultation events  Local people can attend two events in the area to find out more and ask questions.   Tuesday 3 March – Church of the Saviour, Eggington Street, M40 7RN  1.30pm and 6.30pm  Members of the regeneration team will also be available to chat at a pop-in session at Kylie’s Kitchen from 9am to 11am on Wednesday 4 March 2026.  To note: Residents that are currently living within the proposed red line boundary for phase 2 have also been invited to a further session with the regeneration team to answer any specific questions they might have.   The consultation can also be accessed online: www.collyhurst-regeneration.co.uk/home/get-involved  Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  “We chose Collyhurst as one of the first areas to invest in as part of the major Victoria North regeneration programme because we could see the massive potential in this neighbourhood – and we wanted to deliver for this community that has waited for so long for investment in their area.   “It’s great to see that the first Council social rent homes are welcoming residents and we’ll see ongoing completions through the rest of the year, which will also mean residents who moved out of the area will be supported back to Collyhurst and into a new home.   “We can now return our attention to the next phase of delivery, which could see another 550 homes built – with a key focus on social rent, Council and genuinely affordable housing – alongside the new and extended Collyhurst park. Longer-term we are working towards the new tram stop at Sandhills, alongside more new housing, shops and local services.   “There’s a huge amount to be excited about in Collyhurst and we would urge local people to take part in the consultation and come down to the drop in events and give us your thoughts about the future of your community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals