Valette Square

Designed for the English Cities Fund, Valette Square is a new residential development of 33 two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses, located in Salford’s historic and civic core. It is the fourth residential scheme that Buttress has developed in the area for the Fund.

The designs continue the precedent set by the nearby award-winning Timekeepers Square through the delivery of a high-specification sustainable city centre residential neighbourhood.

A key urban design aim was to connect the development with the existing street network and establish a relationship with the neighbouring Timekeepers Square, the adjacent Grade II* listed St Philip’s Church, and the city beyond.

To achieve this, a link from Adelphi Street through to Wilton Place has been created, connecting the neighbourhood to Timekeepers Square.

A strong vertical dynamic has been taken as the fundamental design principle for the new development. This responds to the area’s existing Georgian vernacular and echoes the appearance of Timekeepers Square, providing a close visual relationship between the two developments.

To reinforce the clarity of the site layout and integrate the new houses into their setting, a limited palette of materials has been chosen. The brick picks up on the grey and white blend found at the neighbouring homes and incorporates red multi tones, referencing the red brick buildings immediately adjacent to the site.

The resulting aesthetic allows the scheme to sit sensitively within both its historic and contemporary context, while also being read as a new, distinct community. 

As a result, the development actively seeks to reduce the impact on the immediate and wider environment. High levels of thermal insulation have been adopted for the walls, floors, roofs, and windows to prevent heat loss, whilst the façades of the homes, punctuated by large-format windows, are designed to optimise daylight with high levels of natural light to principal rooms, reducing the requirement for artificial lighting.

Private gardens have been provided both as an amenity space and to encourage biodiversity within the neighbourhood. A variety of species of planting within the private communal courtyard and front boundary treatments provide further support for biodiversity within the locality.

A new public square has also been created, located between an existing Georgian terrace and the site of a former pub. The entrance to the square features mature trees providing an attractive welcome to residents and pedestrians walking through to Adelphi Street. Within the square, seating areas have been provided, offering opportunities for gathering and interaction between residents and the wider community.