Plans proposing a 10-story extension to ‘Riverside House’, located on 100 Blackfriars Road, St Simon Street, Salford, have been submitted by Orka Investments Limited. The plans aim to extend a pre-existing student accommodation by 10 stories by adding 98 rooms and additional parking.
The current four- story accommodation has 242 beds, but the proposed plans would increase the total to 350 beds. To ensure students of different needs can use the building, each floor will have one accessible studio which will be designed in accordance.
On May 15 2025, the proposed plans from the London based company, Orka, were presented to Salford Victoria Trust. The trust is a charitable organisation with the mission to preserve and celebrate the heritage of the Salford Victoria Theatre while creating inclusive opportunities for performance, education, and community engagement that reflect evolving identity of Salford.
A pamphlet drop with link to a website showing the proposals with space for public comment was made in the local residential buildings.
Salford City Council made some comments of concern about the pre-app deign saying “The proposal was generally was considered an awkward and overbearing form for the site which limited opportunities for high quality landscaping and constituted overdevelopment. The inclusion of studios on ground and top floor limited amenity spaces and meant some studios had poor outlook and were susceptible to disturbance.”
The red brick extension on the building will also bring a new roof terrace available to all residents alongside other communal amenity spaces such as a meditational room.
Salford’s population is one of the fastest growing in the country, the biggest growth since 2001 being in those aged between 23 and 28 years old, according to Salford City Council.
Since 2020, the number of students at the University of Salford has increased by almost 3000 students, according Times Higher education. Growth is projected to continue in the next five years, according to Knight Frank Research.
This extension marks Salford’s increasing need for accommodation as its student and young population continues to rise.
Full information on the planning application can be found on the Salford City Council website under PA/2026/1150.
