The hunt for a development partner for the £800M Salford Crescent redevelopment has begun.

Salford City Council and the University of Salford have launched their search for a private sector partner to deliver the mixed residential and commercial scheme, including an innovation park and a cultural quarter.

“We are looking for a private sector partner who understands the unique social and economic impact that this development will have, and who recognises the city’s ambition for inclusive growth and development which benefits the people of Salford," Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said.

The 244-acre city district has been hailed as a potential inheritor of the cool/tech vibe pioneered by Manchester's Northern Quarter.

The Salford Crescent and University masterplan consists of 225 buildings, 25 hectares of open space, 20,000 students, 1.8M SF of academic real estate, 1,367 student beds on campus and 1,820 residential units.

Initial masterplanning for the area, revealed ahead of public consultations this week, suggested a 30-storey apartment tower is part of detailed proposals for the University of Salford campus.

The proposals, devised by 5plus Architects, and promoted by the University and Salford City Council, include the demolition of low-rise buildings and creation of much larger flexible buildings which respond to market needs for industry, technology and process-driven markets.

CBRE is advising on the current partner hunt. Expressions of interest are due by 14 June with a developer expected to be in place by the end of the year.