Plans to demolish Salford’s Regent Retail Park for a billion-pound housing development, which includes the prospective tallest skyscraper outside London, have sparked significant objections.
In July, Henley Investment Management submitted a proposal to Salford City Council to redevelop the Regent Retail Park, replacing it with over 3,000 apartments and commercial spaces at a total investment of £1 billion. The plan highlights a skyscraper exceeding 70 stories, positioning it as the tallest tower outside London if sanctioned. However, this proposed development has faced opposition from hundreds of local residents and visitors, who lament the prospective loss of the retail park.
More than 260 individuals have formally registered their objections, citing concerns over the retail park’s removal. Local traders and shoppers have voiced their dissatisfaction through various channels, including the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Tom Prower, a charity worker stationed at the retail park, articulated the project’s potential adverse impact on the community. ‘Some of our regulars come in just to speak to others, we know many of them by their first names now,’ he shared. ‘The majority of our volunteers are local to the area, some have volunteered here since we set up in 2018. We get people coming for unpaid work experience, they won’t be able to get that if it’s gone.’
The possible closure of essential services, such as the park’s pharmacy, presents a particular worry for residents. ‘One of the big things is the pharmacy, a lot of people rely on that. It would be a big loss,’ Prower added. Additionally, traffic congestion, already an issue in the area, is anticipated to worsen with the proposed development.
Tina Bateson from Eccles and Stefan Tatu, a Romanian computer science graduate, echoed these concerns. Bateson remarked, ‘If it goes, it’s just not fair for the people who work and live near here. People who live nearby will be lost; people’s jobs are going to go too. This (the retail park) is better for the area than flats, they can build new flats anywhere.’ Tatu, while acknowledging the need for housing, questioned the development’s true impact, ‘We do need more housing but they are building homes everywhere, so I don’t know if it makes a difference.’
Henley Investment Management, addressing the backlash, asserted that the development would preserve nearly all existing commercial space. A spokesperson explained, ‘It will continue as a local centre and through the delivery of 86,000 sq. ft. of commercial and community space, replacing almost all the existing viable floorspace, Henley is confident there is room for retailers to return to the site if they wish.’
The planned amenities within the development notably include a community forum, a central concierge space, a parcel hub, and a flexible-use ‘village hall’. ‘We have been in conversation with our tenants since the outset, and they continue to be key stakeholders in our ambitions for the future,’ the spokesperson elaborated.
Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey has publicly urged the council to decline the application, advocating instead for more focused efforts on social and affordable housing. She stressed that the project ‘won’t help tackle the urgent need for social and affordable housing’ in Salford, particularly with over 5,000 individuals on the housing register.
Additionally, the Salford Liberal Democrats have also expressed their disapproval, calling for the integration of affordable homes, expanded green spaces, and a comprehensive review of the anticipated parking and traffic challenges. As of now, the application remains under review by the city’s planning department, with a decision expected by November 4.
The proposed £1 billion redevelopment of Salford’s Regent Retail Park has incited significant public objection and debate, with local residents, officials, and traders expressing concerns about the loss of retail space and the potential negative impacts on the community. As the Salford City Council continues to review the application, the outcome remains to be determined.
