Scarborough Group International (SGI) has appointed Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI) as preferred construction partner to deliver phase three at Middlewood Locks, its £1 billion mixed-use development located between Salford and Manchester City Centre.
BCEGI has already completed phases one and two at the award-winning scheme which is one of the largest regeneration projects in the North-West and the UK.
The first phase of 571 homes completed in September 2018 and phase two of 546 homes completed in November 2021. Phase two was purchased by award-winning PRS operator Get Living for its first PRS venture outside of London.
Both phases are sold out and a new community of over 1,000 residents now live at Middlewood Locks where iconic brewery brand Seven Bro7hers has opened its first beer house alongside Co-op Food and 92 Degrees coffee shop.
Phase three which has been named ‘Railings’ features 189 new homes which includes 176 one to three -bedroom apartments in two blocks, one of 10 storeys and the other 12 storeys, on the northern side of the canal opposite Phase 1. There will also be 7 canalside three to four-bedroom townhouses along with 6 mews houses to support family living.
The Railings will provide further high-quality accommodation incorporating first class amenity space, balconies and private gardens that blend seamlessly into the public realm areas of previous phases.
The project will also feature 5,150 sq ft of ground floor commercial and retail accommodation with an additional 5,000 sq ft of offices.
When completed, the 25-acre neighbourhood will provide a total of 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial space, including offices, hotel, shops and restaurants.
Work on The Railings is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2022 with completion in 2024.
Kevin McCabe, Chairman of Scarborough Group International, commented:
“Our relationship with BCEGI stretches back over seven years, having first met with Senior Directors at their Beijing headquarters before getting to know key personnel at their UK-base office in Manchester.
“Our mutual respect, admiration and commitment to excellence in developing inspiring communities for people to live, work and enjoy made BCEGI the obvious construction partner for Middlewood Locks and has culminated in the completion and occupation of 1,117 new homes and 10,000 SqFt of commercial space over the last five years.
“This appointment is an important step in continuing the delivery of our vision for Middlewood Locks and we look forward to furthering our partnership with Mr Yu and his team in the years ahead, not only encompassing the future phases of Middlewood Locks but also the Group’s wider development portfolio.”
Dongwen YU, lead director at BCEGI, said:
“We’re delighted to be appointed to deliver The Railings for Scarborough Group International, following our successful partnership in completing phases one and two.
“The recent completion of phase two is a significant moment for Middlewood Locks as well as a great achievement for BCEGI in what has been an extremely challenging time for the construction industry. We are thrilled to be, once again, an integral part of what is one of Greater Manchester’s most significant projects.”
Middlewood Locks is a joint venture between Scarborough Group International, Metro Holdings Limited, a Singapore-listed property development and investment group, and Hualing Group, based in Urumqui, Xinjiang, in China.
With landscaped areas of green public realm, the scheme is situated around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal connecting to the River Irwell and a short walk from the central business district and retail amenities of Manchester city centre.
Sitting alongside the Ordsall Chord and adjacent to Salford Central station it bridges this connectivity through new public walkways, cycle routes and green space. It provides the missing link between other regeneration projects and will eventually connect to the new £2.5 billion Salford Crescent scheme.
Subsequent phases will see the development of 500,000 sq ft of commercial space for retail, leisure, offices, a hotel, car park and more residential set in extensive public realm. An updated master plan was recently submitted along with reserved matters for the next phase of residential homes.
Overall, the neighbourhood has a gross development value of more than £1 billion and is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs for the area. Once completed Middlewood Locks is anticipated to have a community of approximately 15,000 people.
