2008, developer Urban Splash has completed the first phase of Chimney Pot Park, a project to revitalize streets of unwanted century-old terraced housing in Salford, England.

This project demonstrates an innovative design response to regenerating existing terraced housing. High quality, modern housing has been provided while retaining the character and integrity of an existing street environment. At Chimney Pot Park, design, visioning and marketing have been used creatively to re-make the image of the wider Langworthy area.

Seedley and Langworthy is a residential neighbourhood of small, two-up, two-down terraced housing in Salford. By 1999, the area had been suffering from long term underinvestment, neglect and crime. The resultant low demand for the properties led to low values, exacerbated by an over-supply of one housing type, a poor perception of the local environment and a lack of local amenties. This had become a place of rejection rather than a place of choice.

This made it typical of many such neighborhoods, not just in Salford or Greater Manchester, but across other towns and cities in Britain. The subsequent redevelopment by Urban Splash and shedkm, therefore, represents an important demonstration project, particularly as it forms part of the national housing market renewal programe. The contribution made by the wider project team and funders, including Salford City Council, North West Development Agency and English Partnerships, has helped to show how perception and image can be tackled and changed through creative intervention.

Through imaginatively reconfiguring the properties, inside and out, this scheme has the potential to change perceptions of the terraced housing typology. The ‘lift’ it gives to the local area also augurs well for the sustainability and longevity of adjoining neighbourhoods. As part of the Central Salford Vision, as well as the housing market renewal programme, it sits within an urban area that will be subject to considerable change over the coming years. Chimney Pot Park helps to signal that change can be a positive and exciting experience.