Salford MP clears the way for the future of Chapel Street

Hazel Blears, MP for Salford visited Chapel Street on Friday as work got under way to remove the old dilapidated properties adjacent to Ye Olde Nelson.

The local MP, who was on site with the demolition team, said: “As the local Salford MP I am delighted to be here to support these important first steps towards the transformation of Chapel Street, which will breathe new life into the heart of Salford.

“Local people have already hugely benefited from the redevelopment of Salford Central station and I am very pleased indeed that we are well on the way to seeing real and positive change in this area.”

Alongside the vital demolition work necessary to make the area safe, historic buildings and public spaces such as Ye Olde Nelson and Bexley Square will be revitalized and brought back into active use.

Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company (URC) and Salford City Council, along with developer partners English Cities Fund (ECF) and a number of other partners have been leading on this work, which will see Chapel Street transformed into a new high quality environment for living, working and relaxing, with a vibrant and distinctive collection of shops, cafes and leisure opportunities linking Salford University to the corporate centre through tree-lined boulevards, new public squares and parks, high quality housing, business premises and reclaimed historic architecture.

Felicity Goodey, Chairman of Central Salford URC said: “At first we feared the Olde Nelson was so badly damaged it might fall down before ECf could acquire it. But like its name sake, it’s not to be beaten and the future restoration of the Old Nelson will come to symbolise what is now at last under way. ‘More Salford, Less anywhere’! Chapel Street is set to become a place where Salfordians are proud to call home and outsiders are eager to visit. Progress on Chapel Street may have appeared slow, but behind the scenes work has been happening at pace. Despite the economic gloom in the rest of the country, development plans here are on track and enjoy the full support of our major backers and developers. It won’t happen overnight. But bit by bit real change has started.”

Said Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council's lead member for planning: "Good planning means mixing the old with the new. It is essential that we preserve as many historic building as possible in the Chapel Street area. Our partners are making a good start in a transformation that will celebrate the old but also bring in a new, vibrant quarter."

Phil Mayall, Senior Development Surveyor, English Cities Fund added: “ECf is delighted that the partners’ considerable efforts to regenerate Chapel Street are now being translated into tangible progress. This is a significant first step in our plans to revitalize this important area, I look forward to the many more that will follow.”

Representatives of the local Chapel Street Regeneration Forum also took the opportunity to meet with the Salford MP to explain the vital and ongoing role they are playing to ensure regeneration plans for Chapel Street meet the needs of the local business and residential community.

Andy Salmon, Chair of the Chapel Street Regeneration Forum, said: "I love living here, it's a fantastic place to be. Chapel Street is on the up and it's really good to see these dangerous, derelict and ugly buildings demolished. I'm looking forward even more to seeing them replaced with new buildings as part of the continuing improvements to this unique and wonderful area."