Plans revealed for former Castle Irwell Student Village in Salford
Following the submission of an outline planning application to build around 500 homes, 25,000 sq ft of commercial space and a school at Castle Irwell, the University of Salford has signalled its intention to appoint a development partner for the 36-acre site.
After a public consultation earlier this year, a team including Day Architectural and Euan Kellie Property Solutions has outlined plans for the 36-acre site, based at the bottom of a loop of the river Irwell.
The former student village on the site, which featured more than 1,000 student beds across a number of four-storey blocks closed in June 2015.
The fresh proposals are for a major overhaul of the site, owned by the University of Salford, featuring residential accommodation, active frontages along Cromwell Road and Littleton Road, and new public space and retail offerings.
Homes will be split between a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and a series of seven riverfront apartment blocks. There is also a five-acre allocation for a new school located at the North West corner of the site, which will be delivered by Salford City Council.
Also proposed are walking and cycling links to the recently-completed Irwell Basin wetlands to the north. The 12-acre wetland forms part of a wider 69-acre flood defence scheme which protects around 2,000 homes from flooding.
While it remains landowner, the University will not act as developer for the site, and will instead bring forward a search to appoint a developer for the scheme, subject to planning approval.
The application is likely to be discussed by Salford Council’s planning committee this summer.
Euan Kellie, director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions, said: “This site has a rich history and we are delighted that we are one step closer to seeing it back into use following the submission of the planning application. Much needed new homes will breathe new life into this prominent regeneration site.
“Local people and community stakeholders have been supportive of the proposals and we look forward to working with them as the plans progress through the planning process.”
