Looking east along Rolling Street in Salford.

“The residential buildings on the left and right form part of Middlewood Locks … - a total of 1,117 new homes”

Well….this one is a corker! 🏗️

The view this time is looking east along Rolling Street in Salford (located off Oldfield Road) towards the railway viaduct at the junction of Hampson Street/ Trinity Way. In the background is, of course, Manchester city centre.

The photo is from 2003 and is another piece of magic very kindly provided by Steve Welsh. At the time this part of Salford was characterised by vacant land, low rise warehouses and rail infrastructure around a canal and three turning basins. Similarly Manchester looked very different in the background (note G-Mex, now Manchester Central).

The bottom photo is from March 2026 this week (a joy to see some ☀️!) and shows the unreal change over the past 23 years.

The residential buildings on the left and right form part of Middlewood Locks (Phases 1 and 2 respectively - a total of 1,117 new homes): a major regeneration and redevelopment programme promoted by Scarborough Group International and delivered by BCEGI UK. Once complete the project will deliver 2,215 homes; 750,000 sqft of commercial space; and, 4.5 acres of public open space over an area of 24 acres.

Middlewood Locks was masterplanned and designed by Whittam Cox Architects, with jmarchitects leading the detailed design and delivery of Phase 2 alongside BCEGI UK.

In the background is of course Beetham Tower (including The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by IHG) along with Salboy’s Viadux - both of which were designed by SimpsonHaugh.

Also visible is the Ordsall Chord along with Aviva Studios - home to Factory International and designed by OMA.

Manchester City Council, Salford City Council.