RIBA Competitions are pleased to announce the launch of an international competition for the design of a new pedestrian bridge across the River Irwell as part of Irwell River Park (IRP), led by Salford City Council.
IRP aims to create an international waterfront destination that will catalyse the economic resurgence of the Manchester City Region over the next decade, and involves a sub-regional partnership of Salford, Manchester and Trafford Councils. It connects over £3 billion of investment by utilising the natural connectivity of the River Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal. Over £660 million of investment to date is transforming the riverside environment and creating new opportunities for residential and commercial investment, which will build confidence in future growth.
The Meadows site in Salford covers an area of around 7 hectares and forms the northern anchor of the Irwell River Park project. With 3 new bridges already constructed at MediaCityUK, Spinningfields and Greengate along the 8km stretch of IRP, Salford City Council is now seeking to design a new landmark pedestrian bridge linking The Crescent (A6) with The Meadows. Adjacent to the University of Salford, this new bridge will further unlock the vast development potential of this major corridor linking Salford and Manchester, where game changing projects such as Salford Central and Greengate are already underway.
The competition is open to registered architects and engineers worldwide. Team collaborations are encouraged and can either be architect or engineering led.
The first stage will be an open (international) and anonymous design competition. Anonymity will then be lifted for a second stage where a shortlist of up to 3 schemes (agreed by the judging panel) will be asked to develop their design proposals.
An equal honorarium payment of £4,000 per shortlisted team will be awarded.
A public consultation will be arranged to enable interested persons to attend an exhibition of the shortlisted designs and make comments. These comments will be made available to the judging panel prior to a final decision being made on the winning scheme.
The competition is being administered by RIBA Competitions, to whom any enquiries relating to the general conditions of this competition should be addressed.
