The corner of Trinity Way and Blackfriars Road

“the Black Friar pub on the right was vacant and derelict.”

This view is from the corner of Trinity Way and Blackfriars Road in Salford looking south east towards Blackfriars Bridge and Manchester City Centre.

Huge thanks to Nick Berry of OMI Architects for very kindly sharing the top photo, which is from 2003. Even though (for Euan) it doesn’t feel that long ago it is an indication as to how much change has taken place in the past 20 years or so. At the time of the photo the site on the left of Blackfriars Road was occupied by the Smart car showroom and the area was characterised by low rise industrial units and surface car parking. In tandem the Black Friar pub on the right was vacant and derelict.

The bottom photo was taken late October 2025 and shows the scale of change that has taken place. In the centre of the picture is Dandara’s Spectrum development. The scheme was designed by OMI Architects, completed in 2009, and comprises 578 apartments along with c.2,300 sqm of retail/office space.

On the left is Fifty5ive Queen Street which was designed by Jon Matthews Architects on behalf of Salboy and delivered by Domis Construction. The scheme comprises 220 apartments and was developed across two adjoining sites: the old Copperworks on King Street and a second site on Queen Street (great work Kelly Paddick in playing a key role in helping to secure planning permission for the project back in 2020 😊).

Across the road on the right is the award winning The Blackfriar Salford which forms part of Salboy’s first development, Local Blackfriars. The scheme was completed in 2019 and includes 383 apartments.