Henley set to deliver a new sustainable community neighbourhood for Salford and the largest affordable housing scheme in over 50 years.
- A vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood with five acres of open green space, including a new park for Salford.
- An enhanced retail centre offering 86,000 sq ft of retail amenities, with 10,000 sq ft dedicated to community use.
- Up to 3,300 new homes in a mix of types and tenures, including 660 affordable homes.
Henley Investment Management is delighted to announce that Salford City Council has approved plans for the £1.3bn Regent Park development. This transformative project will create a new green mixed-use neighbourhood in Salford, delivering essential housing, jobs, and community amenities to the local area.
Situated just outside Manchester city centre, the existing Regent Retail Park serves as one of Salford’s designated Local Centres, providing vital shops, services, leisure, food and drink options, and community facilities. Henley’s approved plans will retain significant retail space while redeveloping the 130,000 sq ft site into a thriving retail, residential, and community hub. The development will cater to the needs of current and future residents with a diverse array of uses, fostering a robust day and night economy.
The new retail offering will comprise around 15 units totalling 86,000 sq ft, accommodating a blend of local independent businesses, high-street brands, and service providers. All existing retailers will be invited to return upon completion of the regeneration.
Designed by Matt Brook Architects, the mixed-use masterplan will establish a placemaking-led urban quarter delivered in two phases across ten buildings. To minimise disruption, parts of the local centre will remain operational during construction, ensuring continued trading for the community.
By reimagining this brownfield site, Regent Park promotes efficient land use and supplies high-quality, energy-efficient homes in an urban setting, reducing pressure on greenbelt areas. The scheme will introduce up to 3,300 new homes with a variety of types and tenures, including 660 affordable units, marking the largest affordable housing initiative in Salford in over 50 years.
Ian Rickwood, Chief Executive, Henley Investment Management, comments,
”Our approved scheme for Regent Park will deliver a new green and sustainable neighbourhood, a renewed local centre for Salford. Our plans recognise the importance of retail and services for the community, retaining significant enhanced provision that will cater to the needs of local people, while delivering much needed high-quality homes, including a significant proportion of affordable homes, a new park, a village square and community forum.
We look forward to continuing to work with Salford City Council, stakeholders and the local community to deliver our vision.
At the core of the development lies five acres of public open space, centred around the 3.5-acre West Union Park, complete with children’s play areas and a village square suitable for pop-up events. A dedicated Community Forum will offer an inclusive space for occupiers and residents alike. This green infrastructure will enhance biodiversity, provide new habitats, and deliver a net gain in environmental value.
Prioritising people-first design, Regent Park will encourage dwelling, walking, and cycling with new routes connecting to surrounding neighbourhoods. The project includes 1,000 dedicated cycle parking spaces for residents, up to 600 car parking spaces, and seamless integration with existing transport links for safer, more sustainable travel between Salford and Manchester.
Beyond housing and amenities, Regent Park will generate significant employment opportunities. The new retail provision is expected to create around 160 permanent jobs, while construction will support over 900 temporary roles, contributing substantial economic benefits to the wider region.
