The University of Salford is set to launch a community consultation regarding its plans for a new Business School building, marking what is anticipated to be the institution’s most substantial investment in its campus estate to date.
The consultation event will take place on Wednesday, 23 September, from 3pm to 7pm at the reception of the University’s Maxwell building. This event aims to provide students, staff, and the wider Salford community with an opportunity to view the proposed plans, ask questions, and offer feedback before the planning application is submitted later this year.
The proposed site for the new Business School is located at 43-44 The Crescent in Salford. This initiative is part of the University’s Salford Campus Connectivity Plan, which represents the most ambitious expansion of its estate thus far. Although the proposal is still awaiting full approval from the University, the decision to proceed with the consultation has been made to adhere to project timelines.
The new Salford Business School will be integrated into the £2.5 billion, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan, a collaborative effort between ECF, Salford City Council, and the University of Salford. The building is designed to encompass approximately 7,400 square metres of adaptable and innovative teaching and research spaces, aimed at fostering collaboration and supporting modern educational practices.
Global architecture firm BDP (Building Design Partnership) has developed the design, which prioritises digital transformation, sustainability, and smart immersive technologies. This approach aims to create an inspiring environment that enhances the student experience and improves graduate outcomes across various disciplines, including Business Management, Human Resources, Supply Chain and Logistics, Digital Business, Law, Marketing, Economics, and Accounting and Finance.
The establishment of the Salford Business School will further the University’s development along the A6 corridor, which includes the rapidly growing south side, home to the Old Fire Station Bakery and Brewery, as well as the recently approved Faraday building that will accommodate professional services teams.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett remarked, “The University of Salford is a hugely important anchor institution in our city and this proposed investment is another significant step in the transformation of the Crescent and the wider regeneration of Salford. A new Business School has the potential to create an outstanding environment for education, research and innovation, while strengthening the connections between our university, businesses, communities and the opportunities being created across our growing economy.”
He added, “Importantly, it can help equip students with the skills employers need and support more people to build successful careers here in Salford and across Greater Manchester. I’m also pleased to see the University engaging with local people at this early stage.”
Charlie Alcroft, development manager at ECF, noted, “The launch of the consultation for the new Business School follows planning approval for Faraday and marks the next step in regenerating this area of Salford. The Crescent is home to a wealth of cultural and historical assets and by upgrading underutilised spaces surrounding them, we’re creating the start of a diverse neighbourhood that brings together innovation, education and leisure to create somewhere to live, learn, work and visit.”
Professor Katy Mason, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This is an exciting opportunity to create a new home for Salford Business School that reflects the future of business education and research. The proposed building will bring together students, colleagues, industry partners and the wider community in a modern, collaborative environment designed to inspire new ways of learning, working and innovating.”
She concluded, “Sustainability, digital transformation and smart immersive technologies are central to us being able to create a building that supports our ambitions for research, industry collaboration, enhanced student experience and improved graduate outcomes. We’re really looking forward to sharing these proposals with our community, hearing people’s views and working together to shape an inspiring new space for Salford Business School.”
Professor Mason also highlighted that this development will create new opportunities to further connect the campus with the city and the communities it serves, representing a significant investment in the future of Salford Business School and its contribution to regional growth and prosperity.
She encouraged students, colleagues, local residents, and the wider community to attend the event to learn more about the proposal.
