Salford City Council has approved plans by Henley Investment Management for the £1.3bn Regent Park development in Salford.

This project will create a new mixed-use neighbourhood, delivering housing, jobs and community amenities to the local area.

Situated just outside Manchester city centre, the existing Regent Retail Park serves as one of Salford’s designated Local Centres, providing vital shops, services, leisure, food and drink options and community facilities.

Henley’s approved plans will retain significant retail space while redeveloping the 130,000 sq ft site into a retail, residential and community hub. The new retail offering will comprise around 15 units totalling 86,000 sq ft.

Designed by Matt Brook Architects, the mixed-use masterplan will develop an urban quarter delivered in two phases across 10 buildings. To minimise disruption, parts of the local centre will remain operational during construction, ensuring continued trading for the community.

The scheme will introduce up to 3,300 new homes with a variety of types and tenures, including 660 affordable units,  marking the largest affordable housing initiative in Salford in more than 50 years.

Ian Rickwood, chief executive of Henley Investment Management, said: “Our approved scheme for Regent Park will deliver a new green and sustainable neighbourhood, a renewed local centre for Salford.

“Our plans recognise the importance of retail and services for the community, retaining significant enhanced provision that will cater to the needs of local people, while delivering much needed high-quality homes, including a significant proportion of affordable homes, a new park, a village square and community forum.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Salford City Council, stakeholders and the local community to deliver our vision.”

The development includes five acres of public open space, centred around the 3.5-acre West Union Park.

The project includes 1,000 dedicated cycle parking spaces for residents, up to 600 car parking spaces and integration with existing transport links for safer, more sustainable travel between Salford and Manchester.

The new retail provision is expected to create around 160 permanent jobs, while construction will support more than 900 temporary roles, contributing substantial economic benefits to the wider region.

Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: “Salford City Council has long-recognised the importance of regeneration in enhancing the city and improving opportunities for local people. We hope this proposed development in Ordsall can bring further benefits, including a substantial contribution to Salford’s social housing supply.

“We recognise local people feel strongly about their area and raised a number of concerns. We hope they can see these were fully considered by the Planning Panel and that the approved proposal has addressed issues as far as possible. The council has a transparent process and follows local policies from Salford’s Local Plan, along with national policy and legislation, to make decisions on planning applications.

“Considerations such as infrastructure, schools and community services are taken into account, alongside wider processes delivering services to meet community needs.”