Securing a powerful legacy for generations to come
MediaCity / Quayside SRF
Salford, UK
Over the past 30 years, Salford Quays has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a derelict wasteland in the mid-1980s, following the closure of Manchester Docks, into a thriving hub for media, innovation, business, culture, retail, sport, and entertainment.
Known as MediaCity, it has become a highly desirable business centre, a cultural and retail destination, and a vibrant residential community. However, like many places worldwide, the pandemic and shifting social attitudes have prompted a reassessment of the development’s remaining phases to ensure its ongoing relevance and significance for future generations. This next chapter is encapsulated within the MediaCity/Quayside Strategic Regeneration Framework.
Working as masterplanners, Prior + Partners have collaborated closely with planners Deloitte and landscape architects Alexandra Steed URBAN to craft a renewed framework which goes beyond revising existing phase 2 plans in isolation, aiming maximize regeneration, economic growth and social impact for the wider region.
Recognising the vast potential of Salford Quays, the site boundary now includes MediaCity, Quayside, and key assets like The Lowry, Lowry Plaza, and the local shopping centre—recently designated as Salford Quays town centre. As part of Greater Manchester’s Central Growth Cluster, this area is poised for large-scale development to drive transformational change, solidifying MediaCity’s regional and national significance
Building on existing assets and the area’s exceptional potential—such as its prime waterfront location, infrastructure, media and cultural hubs, job opportunities, and pedestrian-friendly public spaces—the framework proposes new office spaces, hotels, and enhanced retail, dining, and entertainment options.
Up to 3,200 additional homes will be built in an ecologically sustainable neighbourhood with a variety of housing options. The area will offer outdoor recreational spaces, local shops, services, and amenities, cantered around a new town square connected by a green pedestrian boulevard to the waterfront. Inspired by Oslo and Hamburg’s waterfront destinations, this will be a unifying hub for the community.
The design preserves the original layout while adding a human-scale feel, with urban canopies, pavilions, and smaller buildings that transition smoothly to high-density areas. These spaces will host retail, food and beverage outlets, and temporary cultural events, enhancing the Media Piazza and its waterfront view. A network of pedestrian and cycle routes will connect the area, encouraging exploration of new spaces such as play areas, outdoor education, gardens, and cultural events.
The updated framework for MediaCity/Quayside exemplifies how we can adapt places to meet the evolving needs and desires of communities, while considering social, economic, and environmental factors. With the Strategic Regeneration Framework now endorsed by Salford City Council, it’s the right time to secure MediaCity’s lasting legacy for future generations.
