Salford Quays
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 5.4.2
Salford Quays - Regeneration
Salford Quays occupies the upper part of the Manchester Ship Canal complex. It used to be a derelict area of abandoned warehouses and polluted canals. Salford Quays is a major development in the northwest of England.
Salford Quays complex
- Over 100 hectares of old industrial land was developed by Salford City Council and private investors like Peel Holdings.
- Large lengths of canals and water frontages were cleaned and new vegetation was planted.
Interest groups
- The developers of Salford Quays worked closely with environmental interest groups like the RSPB (which conserves wildlife habitats) when doing river restoration work.
Landmark buildings
- Landmark buildings like the Lowry Theatre, Lowry shopping centre, and the Imperial War Museum North were opened around Salford Quays.
- An area called Media City has been developed and media organisations like the BBC have moved there.
Transport
- The Manchester Metrolink was extended to reach Salford Quays and Media City. It now connects directly into Manchester Piccadilly metro station.
Ocean Gateway
- Peel Holdings are now planning the 'Ocean Gateway' project, which is currently the largest development project in the UK.
- They plan to invest in the Manchester Ship Canal route, which links Manchester and Liverpool.
- The project has a 50-year plan, encompassing the development of renewable energy resources and the regeneration of abandoned docklands.
Salford Quays - Urban Regeneration
The regeneration of Salford Quays bears the hallmarks of more than one urban regeneration strategy.
Employment
- 2,300 BBC staff are now employed in MediaCity in Salford Quays. Many of these jobs are full-time, which is likely to be viewed as more favourable by stakeholders relative to jobs with zero hours contracts.
Positive feedback loop
- Rather than experiencing a spiral of decline, it is possible that Salford Quays could create a positive feedback loop.
- By creating new jobs, landmark buildings and retail experiences, more people and jobs could be attracted to the area in a continuous cycle.
International influences
- The presence of many MNC retailers like Tessuti and M&S in the Lowry's shopping centre illustrates the significance of global influences on places.
Regeneration strategies
- Salford Quays has the hallmarks of lots of major urban regeneration strategies:
- Tourism-led regeneration is evident because of the Lowry Theatre and Imperial War Museum. They are also landmark buildings.
- Retail-led regeneration is shown by the construction of a shopping centre nearby.
- Culture-led regeneration is shown by the establishment of museums like the Imperial War Museum North.
Test yourself on Salford Quays
Where is the Salford Quays regeneration project?
Who did the developers work with when developing Salford Quays?
Regeneration projects can create a continuous cycle of benefits. What do we call this?
How many BBC staff now work in Media City in Salford Quays?