Cool new corner of Salford? Railway arches left to rot being restored as bars, shops and restaurants

A multi-million pound project to bring ten derelict arches on Norton Street back to life has finished, after the work started in September last year.

Led by The Arch Company, bosses are planning to turn the space into a new destination for shopping and leisure.

Joanne Cruickshank, head of leasing at the firm, said: “We’re excited to have completed our multi-million investment in restoring these arches, transforming them into a vibrant new space in Salford, with a diverse mix of restaurants, bars, shops, and other businesses.

“We’ve received significant interest and will be welcoming new customers to the estate over the summer, creating a dynamic community for businesses looking for flexible space to operate and grow.”

Based in the city’s Greengate neighbourhood, the restored arches are close to the office blocks and apartments around the central Salford area, and just across the River Irwell from Manchester.

The area also sits between both Manchester Victoria and Salford Central railway stations.

Alan Soper, studio director at the project’s design architect Stephen George + Partners, said: “We are delighted to see work complete on the transformation of these historical arch structures into spaces for businesses to develop and thrive.”

Planning permission to restore the arches was granted by Salford council in 2023.

This May, Salford councillor Mike McCusker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Greengate has changed beyond recognition after once being known as Manchster’s car park.

He added: “It’s all about building a place that people want to live in, all the stuff around parks and creating a boulevard to link different bits together, so much around this being a high-quality area with great access through to Manchester city centre.”