Gerald Road West, Cromwell, Douglas Green Whit Lane, Langley Road and Agecroft areas
The area
This part of the NDC area is possibly one of its most diverse in nature. From the close-knit terraces at Littleton Road, through the large solid semi-detached public housing from the 1930s and the later Radburn style public housing estates from the 1970s. There is a great deal of open space, particularly next to the River Irwell, left over from the demolition of old industrial buildings and the Pope John Paul II high school.
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In addition there are large areas of industrial buildings and warehousing, predominantly clustered around the Manchester, Bury and Bolton canal and railway line and strung out along Langley Road South which connects Charlestown to Swinton. The co-operative building on the corner of Gerald Road and Cromwell Road forms one of the most prominent landmarks in the area overlooking the busy junction of Cromwell Road and Gerald Road. |
This area will see perhaps the greatest transformation over the next few years with the redevelopment of the 15 hectare Charlestown Riverside redevelopment site.
Local ameneties
This neighbourhood is very well served by a wide range of amenities. There is a small park and play area at Douglas Green; St George’s primary school; St Sebastian’s church, primary school and community centre; Energise Healthy Living Centre; and a local shop all forming a cluster of services at the centre of the neighbourhood. In addition there are youth services such as the Amber Project and Gears + within the area and easy access to all the other amenities the wider NDC area has to offer.
NDC Activities
Community
St Sebastian's Community Centre and Oliver's Gym both continue to be supported by the NDC programme as part of the Community Facilities Strategy.
The area has several residents’ associations and community groups, supported by Community Workers Kelly Wray and Karina Daniels.
- Whit Lane Residents’ Association holds regular meetings and is active in bringing about improvements in the area
- St George’s Residents’ Association covers the area of social housing managed by Salix Homes from Cromwell Road through to the Whit Lane area
- Cromwell Residents' Association covers the Lichfield Street and Suffolk Street estates
The area also offers the following social groups and societies:
- Charlestown Arts Society
- St Sebastian’s Judo Club
- Gemini Group for older people
- The Buckley Club
- Stroke Club
- HAAB
- Little Steps Parent & Toddler Group
- Charlestown Space Cadets
- Breast Mates
Community Safety Initiatives
Hundreds of properties have benefited from alleygates which have dramatically reduced incidences of burglary. Properties on the Whit Lane estate have also benefited from a fenced community garden, secure new driveway gates and interventions to reduce incidences of off-road bikes.
Children, Young People and Education
There are a number of young people’s services in the area with the two primary schools, the nearby Albion High School together with the activities co-ordinated by Salford Youth Service and NDC at the nearby Beacon Centre on London Street. For the youngest children, services include the Little Steps Parent & toddler group, Charlestown Space Cadets and Breast Mates groups.
Young people can also take part in activities organised through community organisations such as the Amber Project and Oliver’s youth club in the Whit Lane area and the annual ‘Party in the Park’ which is an enormously popular event for the whole community.
A number of children’s play areas are within easy reach at Albion Community Garden on Seaford Road, Whit Lane, Strawberry Road, Riverbank Park on Littleton Road, and Kingsley Avenue.
GRUMPY provides play resources and opportunities for children’s groups and service providers throughout the area. The centre also provides high quality meeting rooms.
Several playgroups, parent and toddler groups and out of school groups are active within the NDC area.
Physical Environment
A number of projects have been completed or are underway which together build upon the strengths of the existing assets in improving the quality of life for all.
Projects include:
- Charlestown Riverside Redevelopment
- Intense neighbourhood management plan for the Charlestown Riverside clearance areas
- Whit Lane Housing Environmental Scheme
- Whit Lane Community Garden & play area
- Langley Road Play area
- Litchfield St Chicanes
- Cromwell Road Corridor Improvements
- Gateway Terraces Block Improvements
- See also Development Framework
Health
Residents in this area have access to three Healthy Living Centres within the NDC area which are based at:
- The nearbyEnergise on Douglas Green
- Willow Tree on Littleton Road
- START at Brunswick House near Strawberry Road
Business, Employment & Skills
A number of shops have benefited from block improvement works and Business Improvement Grants, which have assisted with the refurbishment of business properties within the area.
Business advice and training is also available from Salford Hundred Venture based off Frederick Road
Residents in this area have access to:
- Jobshop on Littleton Road to assist in their jobsearch
- The Skills for Life Centre at Lower Kersal Centre on Northallerton Road
- The Eccles College ICT suite at Salford Sports Village on Littleton Road
- The extended schools facilities at Albion High School on London Street
- The new Social Media Centre (currently under development) at the Innovation Forum, on Frederick Road
This page was last updated on 28 September 2009
