Development of infrastructure and existing waterways will be key to winning Central Salford competition.

Five architecture and regeneration consortiums have reached the second stage of the competition to regenerate Salford in Manchester. The five are headed by Alsop BIG, Arup Consulting, Locum Destination Consulting and Dutch firms KCAP and S333 Architecture + Urbanism.

The Central Salford International Competition is to determine which consortium will draw up a vision and strategic regeneration framework for the Salford area.

Felicity Goodey, chair of Central Salford's Shadow Board said the strategic framework would include the development of high-quality infrastructure and the renewal of the waterways and open spaces that already exist. A knowledge-based economy centred around Salford University would also be established, according to Goodey.

Goodey said: "These five consortiums have not only demonstrated that they have the experience, credibility and the creativity that we are looking for but absolutely understand what we are trying to do - which is transform Salford into a place of International Excellence."

The five consortiums on the shortlist are:

  • Alsop BIG with Martin Stockley Associates, New Economics Foundation, Durham Business School, Squint Opera and Equals.
  • Arup Consulting with DEGW, Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects, SURF and Regional Forecasts.
  • KCAP with Maccreanor Lavington, the London School of Economics, Arup and Spin Media.
  • Locum Destination Consulting with Toronto-based Urban Strategies and Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas.
  • S333 Architecture + Urbanism with King Sturge, Comedia, Alan Baxter + Associates, Studio Engelback, Pavlov Medialab, Professor Hugo Hinsley, Professsor Jorge Fiori and David Rudlin.

The closing date for the five shortlisted consortiums to submit tenders is 27 September 2004 and the winner will be announced in November 2004. The successful consortium will work on the vision and regeneration framework with local communities over the winter and spring 2005.