Soapworks

The former Colgate Palmolive factory on - yes, Colgate Lane - closed in 2008, after 100 years, with 400 people losing their jobs.

It is now the Soapworks - joining the Printworks (former printing works in Manchester), the Matchworks (former matchstick factory in Liverpool), the Carriageworks (a rather good hotel and restaurant inLiverpool) .... and probably many more.

I think it is a really good redevelopment/conversion. The old boiler house was the first part to be converted, occupied by Vital and shortly by Talk Talk. It has a fantastic location on the edge of Exchange Quay and fronting the River Irwell. A route has been left through from Ordsall Lane to the riverside, where there are really good views of the distant city centre, pomona where the Bridgewater Canal links to the Irwell/Ship Canal, and Metrolink line from the Quays via Corn Brook to the city centre.

Last time I was here, quite bizarrely, I heard a very strange bird call and looking up eventually espied a ring necked parakeet flying over. A bit of tropical madness in Salford.