Campus Connectivity Plan
We are investing in our campus infrastructure and green spaces to ensure that we have the best environment and facilities possible to deliver on our ambitions. We will transform our campus and the surrounding area through our Campus Connectivity Plan, creating a new city district that will bring together industry, education and innovation.
We are continuing to invest in enabling digital technologies to connect colleagues, students and our wider communities in new and innovative ways, and we are focusing on our green spaces and how we move between our buildings to deliver on our wellbeing and sustainability commitments, as well as to encourage collaborative working and a sense of community.
Our current developments
Health Building
The new site will offer a health and wellbeing hub at the heart of the university estate. Our Clinic Building will offer world-class teaching, practice and research facilities for some of the university’s most popular healthcare courses including podiatry, prosthetics and orthotics, sports rehabilitation, occupational therapy and sport science.
The building is to be a community focus for public services and is central to the university’s commitment to helping reduce health and social inequalities and addressing the NHS’ workforce challenges.
The all-electric building will meet high sustainability standards incorporating solar panels, rainwater harvesting, new cycle parking facilities and will improve biodiversity by at least 25%. It will offer an attractive roof space and terraces, as well as a daylight flooded atrium and extensive indoor planting to enhance the sense of wellbeing and healthy living. Larger spaces will be bookable by community groups, staff and students for therapeutic activities, and there will be green pathways and areas to relax in and enjoy outside the building.
Building work is set to begin around late October 2024 and is on target for completion in Summer 2026.
Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT)
The GMIoT offers higher-level, real world technical education and training across the construction, engineering, computing, creative media, business and health sciences sectors. Whilst education providers, including the university, are already offering courses via the GMIoT, capital funding is now being invested at Salford to create a new flagship building.
The building will be low carbon and feature a state-of-the-art green roof with photovoltaic panels to generate renewable energy, alongside a green living wall supported by rainwater harvesting. Inside you’ll find cutting-edge spaces to support learning, including flexible digital labs, a prototyping workshop and ICT studios.
Importantly, the GMIoT will deliver training and employment opportunities that are co-created with employers and specifically designed for the careers of the future as well as responding to current workforce needs. The GMIoT is an exciting partnership led by the University of Salford with Wigan and Leigh College as the lead FE partner, bringing together several colleges and employers in the city region. Proposals are currently going through planning permission.
Salford Business School
Plans are underway to create a new home for our Salford Business School, combining digital connectivity, innovative teaching and smart and immersive technologies. With a range of flexible, adaptable spaces tailored to the different needs of our stakeholders, the Business School Building will be seen as an engaging destination and key regional place maker for students, colleagues, industry and civic engagement.
Acoustics building
As a world leader in acoustics, we do testing and consultancy in audio, human perception and vibration for some of the world’s best-known organisations and companies like Dyson. In order to take our ambitions to the next level, we are making plans to build a brand-new, cutting-edge acoustics research facility. The space will also train the next generation of acoustic experts through our undergraduate, MSc and PhD Acoustics and Audio students. The proposed new facility is in line with the Crescent and Campus Connectivity Plan. The building is planned for construction in 2027.
We’re growing fast
Over the last few years, we are proud to have constructed a range of pioneering, people-focused buildings from the ground up. Now part of the fabric of our campus these spaces continue to be a space for learning, innovation and ideas.
Energy House 2.0
Our award-winning Energy House 2.0 was completed in February 2022 and is the largest research facility of its type. Inside, there are two environmental chambers each able to accommodate two detached houses and under controlled conditions, recreate a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging between -20˚C to +40˚C and simulated wind, rain, snow and solar radiation. This unique facility will play a key role in accelerating the progress towards low carbon and net zero housing design and builds upon the success of the original Energy House 1, which was opened in 2012.
North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC)
Our £16 million North of England Robotics Innovation Centre officially opened its doors in 2022. The facility is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, with additional support from Research England, and serves as a hub for small to medium-sized industries (SMEs) looking to design, test and validate innovation in this rapidly growing area. In line with our commitment to reducing carbon emissions, NERIC is an all-electric building.
Connecting our campus
Our Campus Connectivity Plan is part of a wider Crescent Development Framework, a long-term vision for Salford over the next 20 years. The Framework is being developed ourselves and our partners Salford City Council and the English Cities Fund (ECF). You can learn more about the partners and the wider plans by visiting the website: Crescent Salford.
Projects currently in the Crescent Framework pipeline include:
Salford Rise
In October 2021, Salford City Council secured £13.17 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to deliver Salford Rise - a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge which will span Frederick Road, connecting the University to the Crescent Innovation Zone. This important piece of infrastructure will create a new elevated podium with planted gardens and new public realm and provide a new car free route from Broughton Road East, over Frederick Road and onwards to Wynne Street.
Construction for Salford Rise is due to start in Summer 2024.
Crescent Innovation
Creating a high-quality innovation ecosystem around the University, Crescent Innovation will build on our existing world-class research capabilities and help drive further economic growth in the city and wider region. The initiative is led by the Crescent partnership, comprised of the University, Salford City Council, and ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse.
Facilitating links between academic, research and business, the scheme comprises 933 new homes, 1.7m sq ft of new commercial innovation floorspace, active ground-floor space, and a new movement hub, along with significant improvements to public spaces.
The site has now been approved, with CBRE advising ECF on planning and Make Architects leading on design.
Salford Crescent Railway Station
Network Rail are putting plans in place to build a third platform at Salford Crescent Railway Station, at the heart of our Peel Park Campus. The station is one of the busiest in Greater Manchester and acts as an important transport hub for our students and colleagues. The proposed new platform will increase platform-level capacity for passengers, provide greater flexibility for train movement through the station and reduce knock-on delays through the rail system.
Campus disruptions
In order to grow, from time to time we’ll need to carry out some enabling work on campus. We hope this doesn’t cause too much disruption and rest assured we’ll do our best to give as much advance notice as possible.
Striving for a sustainable Salford
Sustainable development is a key focus of our Campus Connectivity Plan. We are proud to be supporting the Greater Manchester carbon revolution which will transform Greater Manchester into a world-leading greener, cleaner, climate resilient city region, improving the health and quality of life for millions of people and protecting our green spaces and environment for future generations.
At the university we are dedicated to contributing to a sustainable world and recognize our responsibility to address the direct negative impacts of our own operations. Each development on campus is assessed to ensure it has a positive impact (net gain) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before aiming to go beyond legal requirements.