The developments that will transform the face of Salford

In the 1960s, acclaimed photographer Shirley Baker captured children playing on wastelands created by slum clearance in Salford. By the late 1980s parts of the city were littered with burnt-out cars, semi-derelict housing, and grim tower blocks. But now, with a population boom, a revival of the ship canal, and swish new places to live and work, Salford is undergoing a renaissance.

Things were so bad in the 90s that the Langworthy district saw a mass exodus of families. Homeowners became trapped by negative equity as once pristine back-to-back terraced homes were let by absentee landlords and became drug dens and places to stash stolen goods. It prompted a visit by the then Home Secretary, Jack Straw. Physically parts of the twin-city remained the Dirty Old Town - which local boy Ewan MacColl eulogized in the late forties - despite the impressive irrepressible spirit of its citizens. But a drive around the borough now reveals that in the last two decades there has been the colossal change in the fabric and prospects of the city. The aspirational tone of a report to the council’s Health and Well Being Board in November captured the mood. 

“However, it’s important to make sure everyone benefits from this growth – that we get good, well-paid jobs, quality housing, including affordable homes. “It’s also crucial that the infrastructure such as schools and health facilities are there to support this growth; we’ve already created extra capacity in local schools and are working with our partners to get the best healthcare we can now and in the future.”