A long-vacant University of Salford building is poised for a return to active use after plans were lodged to refurbish Faraday House as part of the £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan. Development partnership ECF has submitted proposals alongside Salford City Council and the University of Salford to transform the building on the A6 next to Irwell Place Car Park.
The proposals sit within the wider 240-acre Crescent Salford regeneration programme, a long-term initiative reshaping this section of the city through a mix of education, residential, commercial and public realm investment.
Originally constructed as the headquarters of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers before becoming part of the university estate in the 1970s, Faraday House has remained empty for several years. Under the submitted plans, the structure would be retained and comprehensively refurbished to provide 3,500 sq m of flexible workspace for the university’s professional services teams.
The scheme forms the next phase of the university’s Campus Connectivity Plan, which is focused on modernising research, teaching and public-facing facilities while improving integration across the campus estate. The intention is to repurpose the existing building fabric rather than pursue demolition and rebuild, aligning with broader sustainability objectives within the regeneration programme.
Design proposals prepared by PRP, with interior design by OBI and landscape input from Planit, outline a reconfigured internal layout designed to support collaborative and adaptable working practices. The refurbishment would introduce upgraded building services, improved accessibility and enhanced environmental performance.
Externally, the scheme includes new green space, cycle storage provision and the creation of an accessible entrance, intended to deliver a more inclusive and welcoming working environment. The landscaping strategy seeks to strengthen connections between the building and surrounding public realm, reinforcing the broader objectives of the Crescent regeneration framework.
If planning approval is granted, works are scheduled to commence before the summer, with completion targeted for winter 2027. The project represents a further step in the phased redevelopment of the Crescent area, bringing a dormant asset back into productive use while supporting the University of Salford’s evolving operational requirements.
