Salboy

Salboy Ltd is a British property development and real estate investment company headquartered in Salford, Greater Manchester. Founded in 2014 by Simon Ismail and Fred Done, the company initially invested in property developments led by other parties before moving toward direct development of its own projects. Its stated development focus has included high-quality residential and mixed-use schemes, with a particular profile in high-rise projects in Greater Manchester. The company’s portfolio includes developments such as Fifty5ive, Glassworks and Viadux. Fifty5ive was completed in 2022, while Glassworks was completed in 2023. Viadux, a major high-rise development in central Manchester, reached completion of its first phase in 2024, with a second phase proposed. Salboy was also associated with the W Hotel & Residences project, which was reported as under construction in February 2025. Beyond developing its own schemes, Salboy provides capital and development expertise to projects led by other developers through its Salboy Build Partner programme. Under this model, Salboy can support a project with financial funding and specialist guidance in exchange for a share of the development’s ownership. This broadens the company’s role beyond that of a conventional developer and gives it an investment and partnership function within the property market. In 2017, Salboy International was launched as a subsidiary intended to market and sell Salboy developments to buyers outside the United Kingdom. The international arm reflects the company’s effort to connect its Greater Manchester projects with a global purchaser base. Salboy’s public identity is closely associated with urban regeneration and large-scale residential construction in Greater Manchester. Its projects have contributed to the changing skyline and housing stock of central Manchester and surrounding areas. At the same time, the company’s work has attracted design criticism: the Glassworks building in Manchester’s Northern Quarter has been criticised by some commentators who argued that its appearance was not sufficiently compatible with the character of the surrounding district. Salboy remains an active private property business, although detailed information about its ownership, financial performance and executive structure is not established by the supplied reference material.

Salboy was established in 2014 by Simon Ismail and Fred Done in Salford, Greater Manchester. The company began as a property investment business, investing in developments undertaken by other parties. It later shifted toward direct property development, with an ambition to deliver high-quality buildings and urban schemes under its own brand. The company’s activities became particularly associated with high-rise development in Greater Manchester. Its reported projects include Fifty5ive, Glassworks and Viadux, as well as the W Hotel & Residences project. Fifty5ive was completed in 2022 and Glassworks followed in 2023. Viadux became one of Salboy’s most prominent schemes; its first phase was completed in 2024 and a second phase was proposed. The W Hotel & Residences was reported to be under construction in February 2025. Salboy expanded its commercial model in addition to undertaking its own developments. Through the Salboy Build Partner programme, it offers financial support and property-development expertise to projects led by other developers. In return, Salboy receives a share of the development’s ownership. This arrangement combines elements of investment, development management and strategic partnership. The company also sought to reach purchasers beyond the United Kingdom. Salboy International was launched in 2017 as a subsidiary responsible for marketing and selling Salboy developments to an international audience. The subsidiary’s creation indicated an effort to broaden the distribution of the company’s Manchester-focused projects among overseas buyers. Salboy’s projects have formed part of the wider transformation of central Manchester and the Greater Manchester urban area. Its high-rise approach has also generated debate about design and local character. In particular, the Glassworks building in the Northern Quarter attracted criticism from some observers who believed that its design was not compatible with the established character of the district. The supplied reference material does not establish a formal legal finding or regulatory sanction arising from this criticism. Salboy is described as an active property development and investment company. Publicly available information in the supplied material does not provide a confirmed corporate website, detailed financial history, complete executive roster, ownership structure or current leadership changes.

• 2024

  First phase of Viadux completed

  [1]Salboyen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase of Viadux was completed, with a second phase proposed.

• 2023

  Glassworks completed

  [1]Salboyen.wikipedia.org

  The Glassworks development was completed in Manchester.

• 2022

  Fifty5ive completed

  [1]Salboyen.wikipedia.org

  The Fifty5ive development was completed.

• 2017

  Salboy International launched

  [1]Salboyen.wikipedia.org

  Salboy International was established to support the international marketing and sale of Salboy developments.

• 2014

  Salboy founded

  [1]Salboyen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Ismail and Fred Done founded Salboy as a property investment and development company.

A privately held Greater Manchester property developer and real estate investor focused on high-quality urban, residential and mixed-use developments, supplemented by development finance and strategic support for partner-led projects.

• Property development

  Fifty5ive

  Fifty5ive is one of Salboy’s reported property developments. The scheme was completed in 2022 and forms part of the company’s portfolio of urban projects.

• High-rise property development

  Glassworks

  Glassworks is a Salboy development in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. It was completed in 2023. The building has also been the subject of design criticism from some observers, particularly concerning its relationship with the surrounding district’s established character.

• High-rise mixed-use development

  Viadux

  Viadux is a major Salboy development in central Manchester. The first phase was completed in 2024, while a second phase was proposed. It is among the projects most closely associated with Salboy’s high-rise development profile.

• Hotel and residential development

  W Hotel & Residences

  W Hotel & Residences is a Salboy-associated hotel and residential project. It was reported as under construction in February 2025.

• Development finance and partnership programme

  Salboy Build Partner

  Salboy Build Partner is a programme through which Salboy supports projects led by other developers. The support can include funding and development expertise, with Salboy receiving a share of the project’s ownership.

• 2017

  Creation of Salboy InternationalStrategy

  Background

  Salboy sought to market and sell its developments beyond the United Kingdom.

  Action taken

  The company launched Salboy International as a subsidiary focused on international marketing and sales.

  Aftermath

  The subsidiary provided an international channel for distributing Salboy development opportunities, although the supplied material does not quantify its results.

  Source

• Shift from property investment toward direct developmentStrategy

  Background

  Salboy initially invested in developments undertaken by other parties before adopting a more direct developer role.

  Action taken

  The company began pursuing and delivering its own property developments, including high-rise projects in Greater Manchester.

  Aftermath

  The strategic shift produced a portfolio of branded Salboy developments and established the company as a visible Greater Manchester developer.

  Source

1. 1Salboyen.wikipedia.org