Soapworks, Salford – £6,000,000

• Developer – Carlyle
• Development Manager – Nikal Abstract
• Sponsor – Salford City Council

The former Colgate Palmolive factory is a significant landmark building in Salford and the proposal to bring the building into active use, with an exemplary design in terms of environmental performance, with the aims of achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, will produce significant economic and environmental benefits. 

The Evergreen investment relates to the refurbishment of the former soap factory Phase A, B and C, which will bring forward 235,512 sq. ft of high quality business floor space, creating new jobs and revitalising the Exchange Quay area of Ordsall. The redevelopment of 235,512 sq. ft floor space will be for high quality flexible commercial floorspace which will provide a complementary office offer to MediaCityUK and the neighbouring Exchange Quay. 

This development represents the redevelopment of 58% of the site, with the remaining building and wider site offering the opportunity for significant future development (with the ability to deliver up to 172,221 sq. ft of floor space over four floors).  Nikal Abstract Management has secured a hybrid planning application and the development has been supported by Salford City Council.

The delivery of the Soapworks project will act as a catalyst to the wider regeneration of the Ordsall Waterfront and Ordsall Neighbourhood. The regeneration of the Ordsall Neighbourhood, one of the most deprived wards (165th in IMD 2007) in the Greater Manchester area and has been a regeneration priority for many years. The Ordsall ward has a Job Seekers Allowance claimant rate of 40% above the regional average.