20 August 2010
The first phase of improvements to the
public spaces at Chapel Street in Salford have been
unveiled.
Urban Vision – Capita Symonds’ partnership
with Salford City Council – is providing, landscape design,
engineering design, street lighting and clerk of works services on
the scheme which has created and revitalised green walkways and
spaces adjacent the Chapel Street corridor, including Bexley
Square, and the walkways and gardens to the west of the historic
Salford Cathedral.
To celebrate the completion of the first phase
guests from the Chapel Street neighbourhood joined members of the
wider Salford community and representatives from the Diocese of
Salford, Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company (CSURC),
Salford City Council (SCC), lead development partner English Cities
Fund (ECF) and Urban Vision at an afternoon tea party in the new
grounds of Salford Cathedral.
The project forms part of ‘The Green and
Walkable Street’ programme which is being delivered by CSURC in
partnership with SCC to bridge the gap between the smaller,
neighbourhood environmental improvements being undertaken with
local communities, and the large-scale public realm and
infrastructure projects such as Chapel Street, Greengate and Quays
Gateway.
The vision for
Chapel Street, which is one of the most important projects in
Central Salford, is to create a unique destination at the heart of
the city region by revitalising the historic core of the city,
linking the University of Salford to a new Corporate Centre around
Salford Central station.
This vision is underpinned by plans to calm
the A6 corridor, reduce traffic volume, support high quality public
transport linkages and create a high quality environment. This will
complement the English Cities Fund’s proposals to create a new
sustainable destination comprising of residential, commercial,
leisure, hotel and retail developments alongside existing and new
creative industries and established homes and businesses.
The final scheme will generate some 11,000
jobs, 220,000sqm of commercial floor space for office, retail, and
leisure development, 849 homes and 390 hotel rooms.
In February 2010 NWDA/ ERDF funding was
secured to start the vital highway and public realm improvement
works along the A6, which have now started on site and are due to
be completed late 2011. Salford City Council formally approved
English Cities Fund’s planning application for the Chapel Street
area in January 2010.
Lead Designer Daniel Sterry, Senior Landscape
Architect at Urban Vision, said: “Working with the URC in
developing and revitalising these forgotten spaces has been both
exciting and challenging and ultimately extremely
rewarding. The Chapel Street area now boasts spaces that offer
both dynamic and stylised designs that are sympathetic to its
immediate environment and historic setting that can be enjoyed by
local communities and be a destination for
visitors. The Green and Walkable Streets illustrate the
level of detail, materials and high level of quality that is to be
progressed to the wider Chapel Street area.”