The multi-million-pound redevelopment of Walkden town centre in Salford looks set to be given the green light early in the New Year. Developer Derwent Group has submitted a refined planning application for the demolition of Victoria Square and Egerton Walk and the refurbishment of existing retail units, bars and cafes, fronting onto a new boulevard. It follows extensive consultation with city council planners, councillors and stakeholders. A design and access statement submitted on behalf of Derwent Group underlined the need for the redevelopment of the town centre. It said: “The centre currently has too much empty space dispersed across a large area and it suffers from low footfall. “The area where the redevelopment is proposed has a vacancy rate of approximately 63 per cent. Further, the area of the centre that will remain has a vacancy rate of 42.5pc. “The proposal will enable the relocation of tenants from the space that will be redeveloped into the space that will remain along with the creation of new modern units for small and large occupiers that will substantially reduce vacancy rates at the centre, bring new uses in and improve its vitality and viability.” Derwent Group’s submission seeks to ‘redevelop and consolidate’ an area of about 7.5 acres at the south of the site, including the existing areas of Victoria Square and Egerton Walk and the associated commercial and retail units, which are older, dilapidated parts of the centre. “We seek to reinvigorate an older, dilapidated area of Waldken town centre and create a vibrant new development and high-quality public realm,” the statement says. It also said the new development’s design is intended to help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, flagging support from Greater Manchester Police in a crime impact statement. Derwent Group was founded in the 1980s by the late Kwik Save founder, entrepreneur and philanthropist Albert Gubay. Its sole purpose was to ‘maximise revenues from its expanding commercial property portfolio to support good causes’. The company has an extensive retail property portfolio stretching across the north of England as well as significant office and industrial buildings mainly in the North West.
