Acoustics building
We are delighted to unveil plans for our new Acoustics building which will offer world class research and teaching facilities, as part of the Crescent Innovation project. The building will meet high sustainability standards and is a key component in the University of Salford’s ambitious Campus Connectivity Plan, which connects industry, education and innovation.
The proposed development
Plans have been approved for a new state-of-the-art Acoustics Building which will bring world-class research facilities to Crescent Salford’s Innovation Zone.
Proposed by the Crescent partnership, comprising the University of Salford, Salford City Council and ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse– Crescent Innovation will build on existing research and development capabilities to drive further economic growth in Salford and facilitate enhanced links between academia, research and business.
Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the Acoustics Building, having previously collaborated with the university on the creation of multiple new learning environments including the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre.
Housing the research, commercial and teaching activities of the University of Salford’s Acoustics Department, the 1,300m2 building will represent the second staging post in the creation of Crescent Innovation following work commencing on Salford Rise in September.
Salford’s world-class acoustic facilities will be designed to meet the highest technical specifications and the requirements of measurement standards. Each space will be supported by one of the largest acoustics research groups in the world and the hands-on expertise of specialist technical staff.
Timescales
Work is anticipated to start on-site in summer 2025 and complete in spring 2027.
Your questions and feedback
You can get in touch with the project team by emailing Estates-CCP@salford.ac.uk, with the reference ‘Acoustics’ in the subject line.
Acoustics Building FAQs
Why do we need a new Acoustics Building?
The proposed development is part of the university's ever-growing Campus Connectivity Plan, which connects industry, education and innovation. The Acoustics Building will be located in the newly approved Crescent Innovation district. Crescent Innovation will build on existing world-class research and development capabilities at the university, helping to drive further economic growth in the city and wider region and facilitating enhanced links between academia, research, and business.
Spanning 29 acres between Broughton Road East and University Road, Crescent Innovation has regeneration at its heart and will be linked to the wider Masterplan by Salford Rise – a near five-acre podium which will span Frederick Road. Laying the foundations for connectivity and collaboration, Salford Rise will act as a key gateway between our campus and the wider innovation zone.
The building will be 1,271 sq.m and 16.5m in height, which is roughly the height of three, two-storey houses. It aims to provide a new dedicated facility to house the teaching, research and commercial activities of the University of Salford Acoustics Team, which are currently located within the Newton Building on Peel Park campus.
When will the building works take place?
Work is anticipated to start on-site in summer 2025 and complete in spring 2027.
Where will the building be located?
The project is part of the newly approved Crescent Innovation district, which lies just north of our Peel Park Campus. The development has been proposed by the Crescent partnership comprising of ECF, Salford City Council, and the University of Salford.
The proposed scheme will be located on an underutilized brownfield site on Lissadel Street.
What are we doing to reduce the disruption/impact?
The site is located on an industrial unit on Lissadel Street which was demolished by Salford City Council in 2023. Regeneration of this space will support the local economy, helping to bring business and investment to the area. All efforts will be made to reduce the disruption and impact to residents, businesses, colleagues and students.
Where can I study across campus?
Our students are our top priority but, along with all construction, some disruption is expected. While we are not anticipating much noise disturbance to our university community due to the site location, there are lots of study spaces across campus, along with quiet places to work.
Study spaces across campus can be found: Student Spaces on Campus - Made in Salford
You can find a list of quiet spots around campus: Campus quiet spaces and where to find them - Made in Salford
What will the building look like?
Please find an illustrative visual of the front entrance above, as designed by Morgan Sindall and Sheppard Robson.
How will biodiversity be affected?
Due to essential enabling works, the removal of eight trees will be happening on site w/c 10th February 2025. While we have explored alternatives, the scale of the proposed building and its specific requirements means unfortunately this is unavoidable.
To mitigate the ecological impact the Crescent Innovation Zone, of which Acoustics is a part, is committed to delivering a positive impact (net gain) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before. All our new buildings on campus will have a significantly higher net gain than the 10% imposed by statutory planning as will the Innovation Zone. The removal of trees will be offset by the planting of a wildflower meadow, introduced shrub, 144m of new native hedgerow, 20 new trees, the installation of bat, sparrow and starling nest boxes, hedgehog houses, and invertebrate habitats.
How sustainable will the building be?
The proposed scheme is dedicated to enhancing the student experience while supporting the university’s sustainability and carbon reduction goals. The university is committed to achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and aims to exceed current Building Regulation requirements by improving thermal performance. We are also integrating low-energy and low-carbon technologies to minimize energy consumption and the building's carbon footprint.
To support this initiative, the building is all electric and the University plan to install 640 square meters of photovoltaic (PV) panels. Our PV strategy focuses on maximizing the number of solar panels on the available roof areas, with the main volume roof designed to accommodate the highest possible amount of PV installation.
Will parking be affected?
There will be a single accessible parking space (with EV charger) to the southern edge of the site, along Strawberry Hill. Whilst there is no on-site parking currently provided as part of the scheme, long-term a transport hub is expected to be delivered as part of our Campus Connectivity Plan to serve the site.
The principal contractor, Morgan Sindall will be managing contractor parking during construction. The exact location for this has not yet been decided, however it will be ring-fenced to a designated area only.
Who do I contact about Salford Rise?
Salford Rise is a separate project and not part of this planning consultation. If you have queries related to the Salford Rise project, please contact salfordrisesupport@ericwright.co.uk