Salford City Council in the UK has approved planning permission for Muse’s plans for a new Acoustics building within Crescent Salford’s innovation zone.
The facility, dedicated to the University of Salford’s Acoustics Department, will encompass research, commercial, and teaching activities.
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Construction of the 1,300m² building is set to commence in mid-2025, with completion expected to take approximately 18 months.
The Acoustics building will be a part of Crescent Innovation, which is integral to the larger £2.5bn ($3.26bn) and 240-acre Crescent Salford master plan.
The project is a collaborative effort between Muse, its English Cities Fund partners Legal and General and Homes England, Salford City Council, and the University of Salford.
Earlier in February this year, Willohaus, a residential development in Salford undertaken by the Crescent partnership, offering affordable Passivhaus Classic-certified homes, topped out.
Crescent Innovation aims to bolster Salford’s economic growth by building on existing research and development capabilities and strengthening ties between academia, research, and business.
The Acoustics building will be situated on a former industrial site at Lissadel Street within the 29-acre Crescent innovation zone, north of the university’s Peel Park campus.
The approval of the Acoustics building is seen as a significant milestone in the development of Crescent Innovation, following the commencement of Salford Rise in September last year.
Morgan Sindall Construction, which has previously partnered with the university on several projects, including the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, has been appointed as the lead contractor for the Acoustics building.
The all-electric building will aim for a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method rating of Excellent and will incorporate low-energy and low-carbon technologies to minimise energy usage and lower the building’s carbon footprint.
Muse development director Max Bentham 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 master plan. As momentum builds, the vision is becoming a reality.”
