Plans to create a series of riverside walking and cycling routes connecting Salford together have been approved.
Approved by Salford City Council will see a regeneration of the 8km stretch of the River Irwell that will include walking and cycling routes connecting Salford Quays and city centre together.
The plans will hope to turn the area into a vibrant and accessible urban park and will follow a comprehensive public consultation at the end of 2024, that renewed the Irwell River Park (IRP) Connectivity and Movement Strategy.
The strategy has been developed on previous IRP regeneration and introduces a stronger focus on active travel, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.
Through this, it will now guide future development and investment to ensure that the current potential of the area can be maximised.
The approved strategy reflects ambitions to enhance connectivity, public realm, accessibility, and identity along the IRP, making it a vibrant asset and a place for all.
The plans will aim to deliver an uninterrupted, attractive, and safe place to walk and cycle near to the river and will be easily accessible from local neighbourhoods and by public transport.
The IRP will also be beneficial to climate change and a place that allows and encourages nature to thrive, that will encourage residents to be involved in public spaces in a meaningful way.
The strategy will encourage inclusivity in the community, whilst also displaying a distinctive identity that reveals and celebrates the rich history, culture, and significance of the river corridor.
The Irwell River Park is intended to a single piece of connected landscape and will provide four distinct character zones, including development in the Meadows and Anaconda, which will focus on enhancing the green and ecologically rich spaces by promoting natural spaces.
The regeneration in Salford City, will also look to transform the urban area by creating a seamless riverside pathway.
And residents will also see improvements to the Ordsall riverside pathway by widening them for safer pedestrian and cyclist use, alongside better lighting to enhance safety and visibility.
The developments Salford Quays will also aim to create a landmark destination to become a place where people and nature exist more closely together.
Ahead of the developments, Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development at Salford City Council said: “The plans that have been approved for Irwell River Park reflects our vision to improve movement and connectivity in Salford through a series of walking and cycling routes, public spaces and nature-rich environments.
“As part of the city’s regeneration and the council’s broader goals of creating a greener, fairer, and healthier city, over the next decade we want to create a vibrant and sustainable place that people can enjoy.
“Our aspiration is that the area will become an essential part of daily life in Salford, where residents can live healthier lives, engage with nature and connect with their city’s rich history.”
Recent Comments