Salford City Council has approved plans for a state-of-the-art Acoustics building, set to become a key part of Crescent Salford's innovation zone.

The world-class facility will serve as the new home for the University of Salford's Acoustics Department, supporting research, commercial activities and teaching.

The 1,300 m² building is expected to begin construction this summer, with an estimated completion timeline of 18 months. It will be located within Crescent Innovation, a core component of the £2.5 billion, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan, which is being developed in partnership with L&G, Homes England, Salford City Council, and the University of Salford.

The Acoustics building will be situated on a former industrial site on Lissadel Street, north of the University's Peel Park campus. It will form a crucial part of Crescent Innovation, which aims to enhance the area's research and development capabilities, stimulate economic growth in Salford, and foster stronger links between academia, research and business.

-- Advertisement --

This latest approval follows the commencement of work on Salford Rise in September 2024, marking another significant milestone in the development of Crescent Innovation.

The facility will be equipped with cutting-edge testing equipment and will support one of the largest acoustics research groups globally. The building will also provide a hub for hands-on expertise from technical staff and will feature spaces dedicated to active research, ensuring the building meets the highest technical standards for acoustic measurements.

Morgan Sindall Construction, which has previously worked with the University of Salford on projects such as the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, has been appointed as the lead contractor for the Acoustics building.

Max Bentham, Development Director, said: "With plans now approved for the Acoustics building, we’re looking forward to this state-of-the-art facility coming to life and bringing world-class research potential to Crescent Innovation. The highly sustainable building will function as a training hub for the next generation of acoustics experts, offering cutting-edge research facilities aimed at enhancing quality of life by reducing the harm caused by noise. Bringing industry and education together, it will further cement Salford as a leader in this field. With Salford Rise on site and work on Willohaus set to complete next year, the approval of plans for the Acoustics building marks an exciting next step in the creation of the Crescent Salford masterplan. As momentum builds, the vision is becoming a reality."