Councillors have raised concerns about the impact on local services, saying the area is already struggling to cope.
People in Ordsall are worried about huge housing plans around the area.
Between the red-brick terraces of Ordsall, Manchester’s glimmering towers come into view.
Soon, Salford’s side of the River Irwell could get a skyscraper of its own, with plans for one of the country’s biggest buildings more than 70-stories tall at Regent Retail Park.
Plans by Henley Investment Management to build 3,300 homes in a massive development are approaching decision time.
A source at the council said the plans could be decided at a crunch planning meeting on July 17.
Approval would bring £1bn of investment into the city and create new places to live across ten new tower blocks.
Transformational is a word banded around a lot with regeneration projects, but for these plans it fits.
A short distance away along Regent Road, plans have been drawn up at Riverside Retail Park by Imco Holdings Ltd and Forshaw Group for another 800 new homes.
Riverside Retail Park has been earmarked for new homes.
A further 500 were granted planning permission in a £200m development by Bankfoot APAM on behalf of Greater Manchester Pension Fund at the Soapworks on the Manchester Ship Canal.
All of these plans are on the edge of Ordsall.
Despite the obvious benefits these changes would bring – new homes, more people, more spending, more jobs – people in Ordsall are worried for the future.
They say there are problems in the community that are not being tackled.
People say they struggle to park outside their homes because spaces are taken by people living elsewhere and commuters.
There are fears about the impact thousands of new residents could have on Salford’s road network, especially the busy Regent Road.
Ordsall’s councillors have raised concerns about the impact on local services, saying the area is already struggling to cope with demand for healthcare.
Perhaps the biggest worry would be the potential loss of affordable shops at Regent Retail Park, which many in Ordsall depend on for both shopping and work opportunities.
“The community will be destroyed if these shops are knocked down,” said Tanya Burch, a Labour councillor representing Ordsall.
“Local residents work there and don’t know if their jobs are going to be secured, there’s so much at stake.
“There are already issues and we’re going to add possibly thousands of people to this, it’s incomprehensible how this is not common sense to add that much pressure.”
Ordsall Labour has thrown its weight against Henley’s plans to build a skyscraper in Salford.
Joining the city’s MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, they fear Ordsall is bearing the brunt of Salford’s massive need for new housing – but without the necessary infrastructure in place to handle it, or enough affordable homes.
A skyscraper could be built near Regent Road in Salford.
Coun Brendan Keville said: “There are about 5,000 dwellings that are either planned or under consideration, including 3,300 at Regent Retail Park.
“There is significant opposition to the Regent Retail Park, it’s heading up to 500 objections now, so this is a concern.
“We don’t have enough affordable housing, we don’t have the necessary public transport network, we don’t have the range of affordable shops, we don’t have the green spaces, a lot of people don’t have access to their own gardens.
“There are local GP surgeries that are oversubscribed, and also its impact on our schools.
“The developer is lacking the necessary contribution for the infrastructure needed, particularly when you consider the level of development that is under way and the census population of Ordsall back in 2021, which was about 10,000.”
The last few decades in Ordsall has been a massive success story.
It was once known as a part of Salford where you could easily run into trouble among its dense network of backstreets and terraced houses.
In January, one resident told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Ordsall was once a “no go zone” in the city – but now it’s become a popular place for young professionals and families with its close access to areas such as Salford Quays and Manchester city centre.
But people living there were keen to point out that change is happening at a fast pace and could make life difficult for the existing community.
“It is very busy around here, we struggle with doctor’s appointments and parking, but that’s everywhere,” said Gail Dowling, who has lived in Ordsall for 30 years.
Gail Dowling said more people are moving to the area.
She’s seen people come and go from the inner-city Salford neighbourhood in that time, and says it has largely changed for the better.
But she doubts whether developers targeting the area understand the pressures local people are facing.
“There are more people moving here, you can see it happening. A lot of people are coming but we’re just not going to have the space for it.”
Ron Crowther, 85, has lived in Ordsall since the 1970s.
Ron Crowther said parking is a major issue.
He said: “We don’t really have enough local services at the moment for all these people, everywhere will be hammered.
“People who live in other areas are already parking around here in our spaces. A lot of these new people coming are going to park here too. There will be hundreds of car spaces needed.”
Nick Dunleavy has worked in Ordsall for the last four years.
He said: “Regent Road is already busy enough as it is. With these new homes being built there would be a lot more cars on the roads.
“I work here and it could be difficult to get in. On the other side it’s good for the economy to have more people around with money to spend. But it will definitely massively change this area.”
Nick Dunleavy said the roads in Ordsall are very busy at times.
Bosses at Henley Investment Management said they have taken steps to make sure its proposals at Regent Retail Park meet local priorities.
Hattie Charlier-Poole, senior development manager, said: “We remain committed to working in partnership with the community to deliver a scheme that is right for Ordsall, one that includes affordable housing within a mix of tenures to meet Salford’s needs.
“These homes will be supported by new infrastructure, such as a community hub and accessible green space.
“We are committed to delivering a sustainable development, with over 1,000 secure cycle spaces and a pedestrian-first layout that reduces reliance on cars.
“Our transport strategy has been carefully reviewed by Transport for Greater Manchester and the council’s officers to ensure the scheme integrates with the local highway network, without placing additional pressure on existing infrastructure.
“We also recognise the importance of existing shops to the community. The new scheme will reprovide these services and current retailers will be invited to return once regeneration is complete.
“This will ensure the community continues to have access to local shops close to home.”
A CGI of the proposed development at Regent Retail Park in Salford.
Salford council has a detailed vision for the future of Ordsall.
A report on the future of the neighbourhood aims to make sure the area is an ‘attractive inner city residential neighbourhood with excellent access to employment, retail and leisure opportunities in the city centre and Salford Quays.’
Across an area including Ordsall, the Quays, Pendleton and Charlestown, the council hopes to add an extra 9,150 homes, around 80 per cent of which will be apartments.
There are also plans to redevelop Regent Road’s local centre, to bring in new greenspaces, local shops, services, leisure opportunities and community facilities, as well as high density housing.
On transport, the council is hoping to ‘significantly increase the journeys made by walking and cycling’.
It also has plans to protect historical sites such as Ordsall Hall, Salford Lads Club and the Barracks estate.
The report states: ‘Regent Road local centre is on the edge of city centre Salford and its offer is currently retail based.
‘There is the potential to diversify the uses within the centre through its comprehensive redevelopment to provide greenspaces, local shops, services, leisure opportunities, and food and drink uses that better serves the needs of the local community.’
A Salford council spokesperson said consideration for infrastructure, school, health and local services are taken into account during the planning process, as well as the views of the public.
These issues are all sure to come up during the council’s decision meeting for the massive plans.
Forshaw Group and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund were approached for comment.