Work commences on transformation of railway arches in key regeneration area of Greater Manchester

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to announce that work has started on the redevelopment of previously derelict railway arches in Greater Manchester. The Arch Company has sought to turn these spaces into new destinations for food and drink, leisure and retail businesses to thrive within. The arches on Norton Street, Salford, are located in Greengate, an area of the city currently experiencing a period of intensive development activity and growth.

The scheme forms part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. At Norton Street, The Arch Company has appointed Triton Construction as the main contractor to undertake the building works to transform the railway arches, following a successful planning application for the scheme late last year. Improvements will include new glazed frontages, new services and drainage, internal lining to make the spaces dry and ready for occupation.

SGP Studio Director, Alan Soper, comments: “We are excited to see work commence on the transformation of these historic arch structures on Norton Street into spaces for businesses to develop and thrive. The development is located in a key area of regeneration and renewal within Greater Manchester and The Arch Company’s investment will help to create a vibrant destination for Salford’s new neighbourhoods, while also supporting local businesses and the wider community.”

Danny Joss, Director of Capital Programmes at The Arch Company, said: “We are really pleased to be investing in transforming these arches. We anticipate strong demand given their location, and we look forward to seeing new businesses move in, supporting the local economy and creating jobs for this growing community. “As a multi-disciplinary supplier on The Arch Company’s Consultancy Framework SGP has drawn on both its design and technical expertise, and extensive track record working with historic buildings to create contemporary spaces, which enhances the industrial heritage of the arches. This will include new glazed frontages, new utility services, drainage and internal lining to prevent water ingress to provide flexible ‘shell and core’ space suitable for new tenants and businesses to occupy. The design for the scheme incorporates high-quality materials that will generate an attractive appearance to the elevations on Norton Street, creating a ‘Street’ of arches that will appeal to potential occupiers in the current marketplace.

Working in partnership with MEP, Civil and Structural Engineers, Pick Everard, SGP’s design has overcome a number of technical, environmental and planning constraints that are inherent within existing urban infrastructure of this type, as Alan Soper explains: “By no means, are arches a ‘normal’ building type and realising the potential of these spaces takes experience and good technical know-how to refurbish them to modern occupancy standards.”

Matt Barron, Associate Structural Engineer at Pick Everard, commented: “After investigating the existing arch structures and local ground conditions, we developed the structural design and drainage scheme. Our building services team then coordinated with utility providers to provide sufficient utility connections to the new development, and has designed the necessary ventilation, power and lighting solutions for the new arch fitouts.

We look forward to seeing the completion of this project and its contribution to the regeneration of the local area.”

Norton Street is just one of several projects on which SGP is working with The Arch Company, which includes the potential redevelopment of ten derelict railway arches on Corporation Street in nearby Manchester. Whilst in London, work has already been completed on the redevelopment of six vacant railway arches on Witan Street into high-specification commercial premises for light industrial use; while on America Street in Southwark, work has completed on the transformation of four dilapidated railway arches into spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars and other leisure businesses.