COUNCIL RELEASES CONCEPT ART OF A POSSIBLE FUTURE VISION FOR ECCLES TOWN CENTRE

Earlier in the year it was announced that Salford City Council had acquired Eccles Shopping Precinct from Columbia Threadneedle for a princely sum of £4.1m, with a view to use it as a catalyst to kickstart the regeneration of Eccles town centre.

Concept art produced by Manchester based architects SimpsonHaugh, has been released via the council, showcasing early stage visualisations of what the future town centre could look like.

The proposal would see a more open and far greener town centre than currently exists, with the demolition of pretty much all of the current 200,000sqft site including its adjoining eyesore of a multi-storey car park. 

The residential-led vision would feature new open spaces as well as provision for shops and other amenities.

The council is in consultation with local stakeholders and is set to appoint a development partner as soon as possible.

Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh, co-founders of SimpsonHaugh, said:

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“We are delighted to have been working alongside Salford City Council to develop a vision for Eccles town centre.

“The vision responds to the public consultation and the community’s expressed desire to establish a sense of place that reinstates the historic streetscape and not only encourages visitors to the town but also achieves a sustainable environment where people work, live, and enjoy leisure time.”

 

SimpsonHaugh is an architecture firm based in Manchester. The firm was founded in 1987 by Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh, and has since grown to become one of the most successful architecture practices in the UK.

SimpsonHaugh is known for designing a wide range of buildings, including office buildings, residential towers, cultural institutions, and public spaces. Some of their notable projects include Beetham Tower in Manchester, One Blackfriars in London, and the No.1 Spinningfields office building in Manchester.

The firm has won numerous awards for their work, including the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in 2019 for their design of the Goldsmith Street housing development in Norwich. They are also known for their commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible design, and many of their projects incorporate innovative green technologies and materials.