MediaCity UK, Salford - Peel Media: Peel L&P and Legal & General Capital

Where is the project located - please enter full address and postcode?

Who is the developer/client of the project?

Joint venture partnership between Peel L&P and Legal and General Capital

Please tell us the story of this project in 250 words max. When did the project complete? How has it evolved? Please upload images, maps or drawings that help describe the project in its location.

It’s been 10 years since the first TV show was broadcast from MediaCityUK. In a decade it has evolved from a cluster of mixed-use buildings and being synonymous with broadcasting to a vibrant community where people live, work, study and spend their leisure time.

Today, 8,000 people work within creative, digital and tech jobs at MediaCityUK and within the thriving 200 strong SME community.

MediaCityUK is a unique environment where we support the next generation of diverse, creative talent. We collaborate with our education and training partners to deliver the skills and talent that our occupiers will need to realise their ambitions.

Our skills and education eco system comprises skills and technology hub HOST – as well as The University of Salford’s digital media campus. MediaCityUK’s University Technical College (UTC) is at the grass roots of this eco system, providing accessible opportunities for local young people to feed into the University’s media campus. In total there are 10,000 students on site.

Over the next couple of years residents are set to double from 2,000 to 4,000 and with a number of cultural attractions on site; The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Coronation Street and Studio Tours and from this summer ITV’s I’m a celebrity Get Me Out of Here – MediaCityUK is on the cusp of even greater things. This is all underpinned by a dedicated Place Team, headed by Place Director Josie Cahill who is creating a new definition of our Place as we expand.

How has this project made a positive economic, social and environmental contribution to the wider place and its citizens? 250 words max. Please upload an images, clippings or drawings that support your statement.

Salford’s economy has performed exceptionally strongly in recent years reporting the highest % economic growth in Greater Manchester which MediaCityUK has played a key part in.*

Between 2010 and 2019 the number of digital or creative businesses has grown in Salford by 70% and a recent survey highlights how the BBC has played a role in cultivating Salford as a “creative and digital cluster”.*

The pandemic has posed economic challenges. As lockdown 1.0 eased we ‘thought out-side the box’ to support our food and beverage independents and local creatives, creating ‘Box on the Docks’- a unique, socially distanced dining experience through 30 sheds and greenhouses designed by 15 local artists.

The initiative doubled the number of visitors and provided an important lifeline to our onsite hospitality businesses in the area. This unique use of our public realm marked a shift from a more corporate vibe to a people centred approach. The project, in partnership with Hemingway Design, The University of Salford and a number of local art institutions has returned for Summer 21. 

Our grassroots Social Value and Sustainability network is delivering value for our local communities; supporting local charities such as the Salford Foodbank we provide resources to support its donation effort. In six months, our assistance has enabled it to collect 6000 kgs of food, providing 7500 meals for local families.

In May, we addressed the mental health of our community by providing FREE events to support the mental health and wellbeing of our creative & tech community.

How has this place adapted over time to changing demographics, behaviours, market context, policy, transport habits and the climate crisis? 250 words max. Please attach images, drawings or reports that support your statement.

In 2020 we appointed MediaCityUK’s first Place Director. Our priority was to interrogate our place brand by undertaking research to develop a brand purpose for the next phase of our development. This resulted in a set of seven brand pillars which inform all that we do as a place team now. 

In the past 12 months, MediaCityUK has cultivated a thriving independent scene including; Vertigo,  Chapati Café, General Store and Seven Brother’s brewhouse.

In the past year, families have craved, safe outdoor space and we’ve embraced this trend by providing more outdoor seating, wild meadow gardens, pop-up food and drink options and activations such as the Luna Loves Art within our award winning gardens.*

We are a living lab for the Smart City Accelerator Programme*and through Hello Lamp Post – we plan to transform community engagement by encouraging people to playfully interact with our built environment such as a planter or bench using their mobile phone.*

Our successful sustainable transport drive hasn’t gone unnoticed – supported by an onsite TfGM cycle hub, MediaCityUK has a higher than average number of cyclists 12% as opposed to the Manchester average of 8%. In partnership with TfGM and Salford University we have embraced e-scooters as an alternative commute transport received a gold award from TfGM for our effort.* Due to our enhanced sustainable travel options we have disbanded plans to expand our car parking facility.

We also have the highest cluster of net zero carbon buildings in the UK. *

Please share any figures that support your entry – for example, increased dwell time, happiness surveys, post-occupancy surveys, footfall, event attendance, or observed changes in behaviour. Article references or quotes from supporters or reviews in the media may also be included.  250 words max.

MediaCityUK has remained open and operational throughout the pandemic and has played a key role in supplying the nation with a constant stream of content. dock10 and the BBC and ITV’s news teams have played a critical role keeping people informed both locally and nationally. BBC Education - provided live lessons and digital support to the nation’s children - all from MediaCityUK.

Occupancy has remained the same as pre-pandemic levels at 94%. Slightly more space has been leased compared to prior to Mar 2020, with the additional independent offerings - testament to the desire to be in a our burgeoning place.

Footfall figures across the site have increased compared to levels pre pandemic, largely due to safely enjoying the wide, open space and the Box on the Docks activation which attracted 7,000 visitors from July to September.*

Box on the Docks has now re-opened and this summer we’ll work with Hello Lamp Post to gather sentiment from those attending our ‘Summer of Play’ activity allowing us to gain genuine insights from local people on what MediaCity means to them and what we can do more of or differently from a placemaking perspective.

The Summer of Play is a collaborative project which will transform the Piazza into an outdoor play area for children of all ages from July to September 2021.

And in Autumn 2021 we’ll welcome Van Gogh Alive – an immersive exhibition which further supports our aim to create a cultural waterside location which has something for everyone.