Plans to refurbish Faraday House as part of £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan
ECF-led proposals would transform vacant University of Salford building into flexible workspace.
4 March 2026
Plans have been submitted to refurbish Faraday House at the University of Salford, bringing the long-vacant building back into use as part of the wider £2.5 billion Crescent Salford regeneration programme.
The proposals have been lodged by ECF – the partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse – alongside Crescent partners Salford City Council and the University of Salford. The scheme forms part of the 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan, which aims to regenerate the area around the university campus and Salford Crescent.
Faraday House, located next to the Irwell Place Car Park on the A6, originally served as the headquarters for the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers before becoming part of the university’s estate in the 1970s. After several years vacant, it is now earmarked for conversion into 3,500m² of high-quality, flexible workspace for the university’s professional services teams.
The refurbishment marks the next phase of the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan, which is delivering major upgrades to research, teaching and public spaces across the estate.
Designed by PRP, with interior design by OBI and landscape architecture led by Planit, the scheme seeks to retain and repurpose the existing structure in line with the partnership’s sustainability objectives. Proposals include enhanced green spaces, cycle storage and a new accessible entrance, with a focus on wellbeing, efficiency and inclusivity.
Max Bentham, development director at ECF, said the project reflects a commitment to making the most of existing assets within the masterplan area. He added that the building’s historic use as workspace lends itself well to refurbishment, allowing it to be repurposed into modern facilities while maximising the value of the retained structure.
Mark Wantling, chief infrastructure officer at the University of Salford, said the transformation of the brownfield site would create a sustainable and welcoming environment for staff while contributing positively to the local area.
The Faraday House plans sit alongside a series of projects already under way across the campus, including a new acoustics building due for completion in 2027, the Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre scheduled for completion in late 2026, and the forthcoming Greater Manchester Institute of Technology focused on higher-level technical education.
Subject to planning approval, works on Faraday House are expected to begin in the spring, with completion targeted for winter 2027.
