Manchester Docks - Rebranded as Salford Quays

Urban rebranding involves re-imaging places and this is often done using the media to improve the image of an urban location. This is usually done for economic reasons such as making cities more attractive for potential investors. The overall aim is to change public perceptions of an otherwise declining urban area.

Urban  regeneration programmes, such as MediaCityUK, involve a range of players who are concerned with place making (regeneration) and the marketing of places (rebranding). Regeneration programmes, such as Salford Quays, impact on people in different ways .

Here you can find information that will enable you to evaluate the relative success of regeneration and rebranding strategies found in Manchester's Salford Quays.

Salford Quays: MediaCityUK

The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. Manchester emerged as a major manufacturing centre during the industrial revolution. The Manchester Ship Canal was its gateway to the world, but when manufacturing declined the docks and Salford fell into decline. In the 1970s, 3,000 people lost their jobs in the docks when modern container ships were too large to use the Manchester Ship Canal.

Today, Manchester has a service based economy and Salford has been regenerated and rebranded as a hub for media companies. Leading the way in this agglomeration of media companies is the BBC. When the BBC closed Television Centre in West London it moved its studios from the capital to MediaCityUK.

Rebranding: this is a process that aims to change perceptions. Often a new name is given to a place to help overcome negative images. Rebranding is often undertaken as part of a regeneration project.

Regeneration: this is a process that changes a place by investing in physical changes to the built environment. New homes, offices, shops and transport services are typical features of regeneration.

Agglomeration: when companies of a similar kind cluster together this is known as economic agglomeration. This allows for economies of scale and networking among the skilled labour force. 

MediaCityUK should be seen as part of a much larger rebranding project. Manchester docks has been rebranded as Salford Quays (pronounced "keys"). 

Salford Quays is an example of a comprehensive urban regeneration project that includes:

• Lowry Art Gallery
• MediaCityUK
• Major new office buildings such as the Digital World Centre.
  
• Waterfront homes and leisure amenities
• Metrolink tram line connects Salford Quays to Manchester city centre and beyond.

Salford Docks in 1924

More information ...

If you have a little while to spare you can download Salford Milestones - a promotional PDF from Salford City Council that gives the official story. 

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Manchester Metrolink tram bound for Piccadilly at Exchange Quay Metrolink Station.

Entrance to the Lowry Centre on Salford Quays, United Kingdom ---- Photograph © Andrew Dunn, 5 September 2004