Just off Oldfield Lane in Salford
“…Notable landmarks in the background at the time include the Granada TV office building”
With the red-hot temperatures this week, it seemed like a good reason to choose a view that includes some water! ☀️
As always, huge thanks to Steve Welsh for kindly sharing the top photo, which dates back to 2005.
It was taken just off Oldfield Lane in Salford, looking east towards Manchester city centre. Notable landmarks in the background at the time include the Granada TV office building, the Granada Studios building, and the then-under-construction Beetham Tower. In the foreground are the remnants of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, which was infilled in 1969.
The bottom photo was taken a May 2026 and shows the considerable change over the past 21 years, both on the ground and on the skyline.
On the left is the Railings, which forms Phase 3 of Middlewood Locks. Comprising 184 homes the scheme was designed by Whittam Cox Architects and delivered by Scarborough Group International.
Middlewood Locks has played a significant role in Salford’s transformation, converting 24 acres of former industrial land into a mixed-use neighbourhood. On completion, it will provide 2,215 homes, 750,000 sq ft of commercial space and 4.5 acres of public open space.
Adjacent to the Railings is the restored Canal, which took place between 2006 and 2008 by VolkerStevin on behalf of British Waterways and forms the green and blue spine of Middlewood Locks. Euan loved reading about the restoration work which included retaining the existing lock structure.
With the exciting news that the TV Festival will relocate to Manchester in 2027 it seems fitting that its new home, St John’s, is visible in the background.
As part of the St John’s and Enterprise City neighbourhood you just see the two Union towers in Manchester, designed by Denton Corker Marshall and developed by Vita Group (the taller tower - 36 storeys - is particularly visible). In total the scheme delivers 770 apartments and 1,676 beds across a mix of studios and shared apartments.
Alongside this is Aviva Studios - home of Factory International - designed by OMA.
In the background is the completed Beetham Tower and The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by IHG. Also visible is Viadux by Salboy and Aloft by Marriott Manchester City Centre - all designed by SimpsonHaugh.