Plans submitted for Phase 2 of MediaCityUK

Plans have been submitted to Salford City Council for the second phase of MediaCityUK, Salford's waterfront media hub, currently home to over 250 businesses including the BBC and ITV.

The 1 billion pound expansion plans will see the existing development more than double in size with the addition of ten new buildings providing 540,000 sq ft of commercial space, 1800 new apartments and retail and leisure uses framed in a high quality public realm and a series of open, communal spaces designed by Gillespies.

Gillespies and Chapman Taylor worked closely with the Peel Group to develop the masterplan framework and individual development plots for this unique site and development opportunity. The masterplan strategy proposes a sequence of public spaces to create a pedestrian spine running through the new development, seamlessly extending the high quality landscape delivered in the first phase and providing additional public spaces and pedestrian-friendly routes that will connect the buildings to the rejuvenated waterfront.

The largest of these public spaces is Market Square which is located at the heart of the new mixed-use development and will provide a dynamic and flexible space, incorporating a contemporary market hall and event space surrounded by restaurants, shops and apartments. 

In collaboration with Gillespies as overarching public realm designers, the development plots - which will be developed in phases - have been designed by Chapman Taylor, Sheppard Robson, 5 Plus Architects, Hodders + Partners and Jeffrey Bell Architects.  The application represents another major step forward in the evolution of MediaCityUK into a new waterfront community offering the perfect balance of business, leisure and residential uses in an exemplary public realm. 

Construction at MediaCityUK continues with the Chapman Taylor-designed 'Tomorrow Building'- a gateway hotel and office development - opening this summer and 'The Lightbox', a prominent twin block development of nearly 500 apartments on the Manchester Ship Canal waterfront designed by AHR Architects, commencing on site early in 2017. Continuing their long association with the highly-successful and transformational MediaCityUK development, both schemes are supported by a carefully crafted public realm designed by Gillespies.