We Can Do the Whole Journey | Howard Lord Talks to Insider
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Our founder, Howard Lord, recently spoke to Insider Media about the journey behind CERT Property,
Salford City Council has granted full planning approval for One Albert Street, our six‑storey residential development delivering 126 new homes at a key gateway into Eccles town centre. The decision, made at the planning committee on 17th September 2026, marks a major milestone for us and For Housing.
One Albert Street will transform a long‑vacant brownfield site into a high‑quality residential community including a mix of 1‑, 2‑ and 3‑bedroom apartments. Ground floor apartments will benefit from individual private terraces, and residents will have access to a private shared garden.
The development blends contemporary design with local industrial heritage using high-quality traditional brickwork. The tripartite façade features an expressed structural grid, deep window reveals, and horizontal soldier coursing. A dark red brick “gateway” corner with double-height glazing anchors the site, accented by oxide red window frames and Juliet balconies. Ground-floor duplex townhouses with individual garden terraces provide 100% active street frontages, seamlessly integrating into the public realm. Finally, a landscaped internal courtyard offers residents a private, climate-resilient green space with communal seating. 134 secure cycle spaces will be provided for the 126 apartments.
Stephen Oster, Our Head of Acquisitions and Development, comments: “Securing planning approval for One Albert Street is a significant milestone on this project. We have collectively brought forward a well designed, high-quality scheme that will become a welcoming place to live. It’s fantastic to now have approval in place for an important site within Eccles Town Centre, and we’re looking forward to seeing One Albert Street take shape.”
One Albert Street will complement Salford City Council’s emerging masterplan for Eccles, which sets out a wider vision for the town centre including refreshed community-focused spaces. The plans also include connecting key streets including Albert Street and Church Street that will be significantly improved through the creation of Vicarage Walk and Church Square, forming new, greener public spaces at the centre of Eccles. Together, these proposals aim to create a more vibrant and connected town centre, with One Albert Street forming part of this wider transformation.
The project team includes GK Construction, appointed as the main contractor and Euan Kellie Property Solutions is advising on planning.
One Albert Street strengthens our ongoing momentum, with a development pipeline of over 500 homes and over 1.3 million sq ft under management nationwide across asset classes spanning residential, office, retail, and industrial with its in-house property management team.
