Salford's future is taking shape, with a vision for the city by 2042 outlined in the second part of Salford council's local plan including ambitious goals for jobs, housing, transport and property development.
The document, known as the borough's 'core strategy and allocations.', includes plans for housing, employment, and transportation.
The council has plans to construct at least 33,000 homes by 2042, but this figure could rise to around 40,000 as Salford has also adopted the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone scheme. The future blueprint for Salford also involves creating over 250,000 sq m of new office space and 550,000 sq m of industrial and warehousing facilities, providing a significant boost to the local economy and job creation.
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The plan indicates that a 'large proportion of new housing and office development' will be concentrated in the city centre and Salford Quays – identified as key growth areas – with industry and warehousing centred around Port Salford in the south-west part of the city. Approximately 85% of new development is planned to be built on previously developed land and existing buildings which are currently vacant, according to the plan.
In the city centre and Salford Quays areas, new housing is set to focus on apartments and duplexes, with more houses within the inner-city areas such as Eccles and Ordsall, and further out towards the edges of the borough.
Significant development projects are ahead for the Salford Community Stadium, which the council acquired with aims to bolster tourism, business, as well as industrial and warehousing sectors. In terms of transportation, Salford Council is devising strategies to 'minimise the need to travel', pushing for sustainable transport options to reduce car usage by expanding development work's scale and density.
These initiatives align with imminent improvements to the city’s walking and cycling infrastructure, including upgrades along Chapel Street. The city's blueprint for growth also proposes allocating additional land at Duchy Road to supply new accommodation for the gypsy and traveller community, addressing an acute shortfall in plots for travelling showpeople, adjoining the north of the current site in that locale.
Distinct masterplans for Salford’s neighbourhoods are being drafted to detail their prospective evolution. With an expected formal adoption by autumn 2026, the local plan has recently undergone a ten-week public scrutiny period spanning December to February 2025.
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Coun Mike McCusker, in charge of planning, transport, and sustainable development for Salford Council, said: "Core strategy and allocations is an important final element for Salford's local plan.
"It builds on Places for Everyone and the Salford local plan: development management policies and designations, to support the continuing sustainable growth of a fairer Salford, fostering neighbourhoods where all communities can thrive.
"This part of the local plan sets out how and where Salford's growth will happen, and how we'll ensure that this growth happens alongside a high-quality and resilient natural and built environment.
"There's still a lot of work to do on the local plan as we progress, and we hope that the local community engages with this process as much as possible."
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