A three-storey office building near Salford's MediaCityUK, constructed but left vacant for nearly two decades, is set to be demolished. Broadway House on Columbus Way was never fully completed after its construction in 2008. Now, the Royal London UK Real Estate Fund plans to bulldoze the structure and build two warehouses on the site.
Site History and New Plans
The office was originally built by Orbit Investments (Salford) Ltd at the Metroplex Business Park. According to planning consultants Turley, the internal fit-out was never finished, leaving the building unoccupied since completion. In 2022, plans were submitted to transform the site into two large data centres, but those plans were never executed despite receiving council permission.
Royal London now intends to construct two warehouses. The larger one, with 2,403 square metres of floor space, will occupy the former office site. A smaller warehouse of 1,534 square metres will be built on an adjacent plot that was originally intended for further office development but was abandoned. The warehouses will feature a neutral palette of steel, with extensive planting and a wildflower meadow to protect nearby utilities and shield views from the historic Weaste Cemetery.
Developer's Vision
In a Design and Access Statement prepared by The Harris Partnership Ltd, the architects stated: "The new development will bring back into use a site that has long been left vacant and half of which has been partly developed and left to become overgrown due to neglect and disuse. The proposals will optimise the existing land use with efficient spatial planning and site access."
They added: "The proposed re-development will provide a modern, high quality development which will create new job opportunities and provide further facilities for the local area."
Town planners are expected to make a decision on the proposal by the end of August. For more local planning applications, traffic diversions, and other community updates, visit the Public Notices Portal.
