Confirmation of the start date came after developer FairBriar International was granted detailed planning consent by Salford City Council for the first phase of its 24-acre Middlewood Locks development.

The new residential and commercial neighbourhood will be located at the western gateway to Manchester’s Central Business District.

The first phase will comprise the development of around 571 homes and associated commercial space, including convenience shops and restaurants, and extensive new public realm in the form of canal side footpaths and cycle ways that will connect into the city centre.

Middlewood Locks will eventually provide around 2,000 new homes and more than 750,000 sq ft of commercial development space, including offices, hotel, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and gym.

The development, designed by architects, WCEC Group, is centred around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal in Salford.