Salford approves controversial 42-storey skyscraper, 177 council homes

Renaker’s 444-apartment Greengate scheme and the council’s own Little Hulton residential project were granted planning permission at a committee meeting on Thursday.

Greengate skyscraper

Councillors were divided on the 42-storey tower project from Renaker, which is set to change up the Salford skyline.

The project already had outline approval, with the planning committee only being asked to grant permission to changes to the phasing and scale parameters of the scheme, bringing forward the 42-storey tower so it can be delivered next in sequence rather than at the end of the masterplan.

However, several councillors took the time to share their disapproval of the overall design.

Chief among them was Cllr Bob Clarke, who described the tower as an “anaemic, no architectural value building”.

“That cathedral out there, that’s architecture,” Clarke continued. “This is just Jenga. It just looks like somebody’s drawn a block and put Jenga on it. It’s awful. I’m not going to go down in history liking that or approving it.”

Among the supporters and defenders of the Denton Corker Marshall-designed building was Cllr Phil Cusack, a property consultant, who said the skyscraper’s designs were on par with “some of the highest design standards I’ve seen in tall buildings – not only in this country but across Europe”.

“I think it’s something we should applaud,” Cllr Cusack continued. I think it’s a development that will sit well within the city’s townscape for generations to come.”

In the end, the project was approved by the committee.

The Greengate tower will include more than 7,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor, storage for 178 cycles and 155 car parking spaces. Planned residential amenities include a gym, lounge and co-working area.

There will be 444 apartments in the tower.

Project team:

• Architect: Denton Corker Marshall
• Planner: Deloitte
• Landscape and public realm strategy: TPM
• Sustainabiity and energy consultant: Element Sustainabiity
• Ventilation strategy: MEP Design
• Flood risk and drainage consultant: Curtins
• Solar glare assessment: GIA
• Fire statement: Hoare Lea
• Air quality expert: Ensafe
• Noise and vibration expert: Fisher Coustics
• Heritage consultant: Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture
• Transport consultant: SKTP

The project is the largest Salford council housing scheme in half a century, according to the council. Credit: via Salford City Council

Land at the old Harrop Fold High School

Salford City Council will build 132 houses and 45 apartments on the 11.7-acre site off Longshaw Drive in Little Hulton. According to the plans, there will be 30 one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments and 31 two-bed, 70 three-bed, 40 four-bed and one five-bed house built.

More than 50% of the properties will be affordable housing, according to the council.

The breakdown is as follows:

• 46 homes for social rent
• 46 homes for affordable rent
• 42 homes for the private rented sector
• 43 homes for open market sale

Dérive RP, part of Salford City Council’s local housing company the Dérive Group, will manage the affordable housing homes.

The project is the largest Salford council housing scheme in half a century.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Tracy Kelly, lead member for housing, property and regeneration said: “This is another significant milestone for the council and Dérive as we continue to progress the largest council housing scheme that Salford has seen in 50 years.

“This development will help us regenerate Little Hulton which has a considerable shortfall of affordable housing and will replenish an extremely overgrown site that has been crying out for a development like this for some time,” she continued.

“Not only will this site provide just under a hundred properties for residents on our waiting list but all of the houses will be highly energy-efficient as we target carbon neutrality for the city by 2038.”

Project team:

• Architect: Pozzoni Architecture
• Planning: Avison Young
• Project management: Identity Consut
• Landscape design: TEP
• Transport consultant: Curtins
• Civil and structural engineer: Curtins
• Noise assessor: SRLl
• Air quality assessor: GL Hearn
• Energy and sustainability consultant: PHI Architects
• Ecologist: EPS
• Arboriculturalist: JC