The neglected corner of Salford plagued by litter about to become a new 'creative neighbourhood'

A new 'creative neighbourhood' is being planned in Salford city centre with a festival space and community garden.

The plans include creating 90 new homes in a mix of apartments and townhouses, in an area which has been 'neglected' in recent years, facing issues with 'litter' and 'fly-tipping.' Known as Oldfield Basin, the development could become one of the city's trendiest places to live, based at the Regent Trading Estate on Oldfield Road.

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It is next to the grade II listed Islington Mill - a site which is home to more than 100 resident artists and collectives.

The key feature of the design is a new 'festival yard' which would host events and markets linked to the Arts Club, and a community garden with 'grow your own spaces.'

The proposal by ECF (English Cities Fund) would see a block of flats built with a nod to the area's post-industrial, canal side heritage, with a total of 63 apartments, predominantly made up of one and two bedrooms.

This is alongside 27 three-bed townhouses, all set to be rented at 'affordable' rates.

All of the homes are set to be built to Passivhaus standards, with measures taken to reduce energy costs for residents.

The design includes creating a new pedestrian link connecting Oldfield Road to James Street and Stephenson Street, along with a new street through the site named as Maker Street, next to Islington Mill.

A plan has been drawn up to sell the homes to Dérive - the Salford City Council owned housing firm - who would manage the properties once complete, with construction work expected to take around two years.

Bosses behind the scheme hope it will act as a 'catalyst for