Atelier Plots E7/E8, Salford
Overview
Atelier is an impressive residential development in the heart of Salford, designed and constructed by Eric Wright Construction for The English Cities Fund, a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England, in partnership with Salford City Council.
It involves 167 one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside 11 three-bedroom townhouses for sale, with eight ground floor commercial units and extensive public realm improvements.
This project is part of the English Cities Fund’s wider £650 million regeneration scheme, transforming the area of Salford Central. The masterplan for the project (which is in excess of 50 acres), contains commercial, retail and residential buildings creating a new and vibrant destination for people to live, work and relax.
Key Challenges
The development, bounded by busy main roads on each elevation, consists of four main blocks with varied plan size and height, a large external podium area and a row of traditionally built townhouses. Due to the varying scale and construction methods, this required the team to manage multiple packages and contractors within a very constrained site with the building lines located on the legal boundary to all four elevations. Careful logistics planning and phasing was imperative to overcome these logistical challenges, ensuring minimum disruption to existing businesses and residents and using best practice measures ensuring smooth and safe delivery of the works
There was archaeological interest with history of burial grounds in the area. Once established, the team quickly engaged with Salford Archaeology to monitor the excavations and secured a letter of comfort from the archaeology team to release the development for work in order to start once all findings had been recorded. Any potential delays to the project were mitigated during the enabling works contract and the site was successfully de-risked during the planned period of ten weeks and on budget.
During the enabling works we discovered some historic gravestones and engaged quickly with Salford Archaeology to monitor the excavations when removing the gravestones.
Added Value
EWC implemented good value engineering exercises to provide cost savings to the client whilst ensuring no compromise in the design. This included removing the feature wall panelling to the main entrance, stacked window in lieu of curtain walling types, changing alternative Neaco deck to external balconies and removing all tree grills.
Making a difference to the communities where we work, we were proud to assist in the renovation of a mural that had been vandalised. Working with St Phillip’s CE Primary, the pupils helped to create the mural as part of an art project.
We delivered these new homes safely, on time and on budget to the Client’s rigorous standards. Not only have residences been created for the people of Salford, but we were also able to create 325 weeks of employment opportunities for local residents, including apprenticeships, work opportunities and placements. In addition, 75% of the workforce was employed from the local area, which will provide homes that can be enjoyed by future generations.