Between 2001 and 2011, the Charlestown and Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities (NDC) partnership worked alongside the council, partner agencies and the local community, to bring about the comprehensive regeneration of the area.
During this period the area benefited from a number of landmark projects. These include the building of Salford Sports Village, the Beacon Centre, the Salford Innovation Forum and two Healthy Living Centres (Willow Tree and Energise).
In addition to these important facilities, improvements were carried out on two community centres - St Sebastian’s and Lower Kersal centres and around 2,200 terraced and council owned homes. Miller Homes and ID4Living also commenced the development of more than 200 new homes on the Unity Quarter site.
Since 2011, the council has continued to work with partners such as Inspiring Communities Together (ICT) and Salix Homes to transform Charlestown and Lower Kersal. In 2014, the council completed substantial environmental improvements to more than 100 homes on the Whit Lane estate. This complemented the Decent Homes work carried out by Salix Homes the previous year.
In January 2015, the council selected Keepmoat as its preferred developer partner for the Charlestown Riverside development site. Following a series of community consultation events in May 2015, Keepmoat submitted a planning application for up to 450 new homes (20% of which will be affordable homes), a brand new park and an improved riverside walkway along the Irwell.
This development will not only create new 2-4 bedroom homes, it will also provide local people with opportunities to access apprenticeship and employment opportunities in construction. Local businesses will also benefit as Keepmoat will source a significant amount of its supplies locally. Subject to planning approval, Keepmoat expects to commence work on site in spring 2016.
Next to the Charlestown Riverside site, Low Wood hydro developers are preparing to install a new hydro scheme and fish pass at Charlestown Weir. At the centre of the hydro system are two Archimedes Screws that will generate enough electricity to power 200 homes. It will also save more than 600 tonnes of carbon annually.
Subject to planning approval, work will commence on the scheme in the summer of 2016 and be completed later this year.
This page was last updated on 10 January 2018