The third phase of the £1bn Middlewood Locks development in Salford has topped out. 

Developer Scarborough Group International (SGI) hosted the event which marked topping out of the Railings phase of the scheme, made up of 189 apartments and townhouses.

Middlewood Locks is a joint venture being delivered by SGI with Metro Holdings, a Singapore-listed property development and investment group, and Hualing Group, based in Urumqui, Xinjiang, in China.

More than 50 special guests gathered for the event including senior representatives from Metro, who flew in from Singapore,  main contractor BCEGI,  Salford City Council, Homes England and the delivery team.

Identified as a key strategic development opportunity more than 20 years ago, the 25-acre brownfield site where Middlewood Locks now stands has already been transformed into a thriving new mixed-use neighbourhood, directly connecting Salford to Manchester city centre.

It is now home to more than 2,000 residents in 1,117 apartments. 

Seven Bro7hers Beer House, 92 Degrees Coffee Shop and a Co-op convenience store support the growing community. 

New homes at the Railings are expected to be available for occupation towards the end of 2024 or early 2025.  

All of the townhouses have now sold along with a number of the apartments and mews houses.  

Kevin McCabe, chairman at SGI, said: “We are delighted to achieve ‘topping out’ for Railings, the third phase of Middlewood Locks which marks a very important milestone in our ongoing commitment to deliver one of the largest single regeneration projects that the North-west has ever seen

“Middlewood Locks is a major undertaking for us and I am pleased to say greatly supports the regional economy with strong job creation and ultimately much needed new homes in the city.”

Seven years under development the scheme has already made a considerable economic impact, supporting around 6,000 jobs with the total local economic benefit to the Greater Manchester sub-region for phases one and two at £260m.

Future plans include the development of the remaining 10-acre plot with outline planning consent already in place to deliver more new homes alongside Grade A office accommodation and a new hotel.