Charlotte Hall

Local Democracy Reporter

Based inSalford

Topic ExpertiseCouncils, Politics, communities, social issues, housing, homelessness

Local ExpertiseGreater Manchester, Salford, Oldham, Bury, Manchester

AwardsRunner-up LDR of the year 2025, Runner-up LDR story of the year 2025Nominated for Reach PLC CBJ Awards Local Democracy Reporter of the Year 2026

Charlotte is a highly commended Local Democracy Reporter covering Salford for the Manchester Evening News in partnership with the BBC. She previously covered Oldham Council and Bury Council. She completed her NCTJ in Manchester in 2023.

No voting checks on Makerfield by-election - as it clashes with holiday plans

Makerfield by-election 2026

Democracy Volunteers who observe the Gorton and Denton byelection in February

We asked Restore voters in Makerfield if they had seen their candidate, with surprising results

Makerfield by-election 2026

Most Restore voters in Makerfield admitted they 'didn't know much' about the party's candidate

New neighbourhood of affordable homes could soon be built in Salford area

The new estate will sit beside 71 affordable homes already currently under construction

Salford's much-loved dance academy forced to move over soaring rent

The Studio 96 dance academy in Salford has been open for six years, but now has to move if it wants to stay open.

Hundreds of homes next to Strangeways amongst major plans for Greater Manchester

These are all the significant planning developments tabled with councils across the city-region

Salford Council is investigating its own housing company, and now the blame game has begun

Sources inside the authority claim suspended staff members feel they are being 'scapegoated' for years of ‘rampant governance failures’

Voters in Makerfield may be divided, but there's one thing most agree on

Makerfield by-election 2026

Most are fed up of people trying to change their minds

New artisan bakery coming to Monton - despite sweary outburst by neighbours

Plans for a new bakery were approved, but not everyone was happy about it.

Residents 'celebrate birthday' of sinkhole after year of inaction

It appears to be getting deeper, according to residents.

Major regeneration is coming to Salford - but some say it 'looks like East Berlin'

More than 100 of the apartments will be affordable housing.

Reform councillor says council responsibilities impacted by death threats

The threat was posted as a comment on Facebook

Manchester is making a £1m case for a project 'created from the ashes of HS2'

Piccadilly Train Station

The government are loosely supportive of creating an underground station at Piccadilly - but there's still a long way to go before Manchester gets the green light.

The £4m that could help kids in Salford schools ‘learn to fly’

A major investment into more than twenty schools in Salford is 'changing the culture' around SEND.

Salford to employ 'empty home officers' to crack down on abandoned houses

The project is part of efforts to acquire more emergency housing.

Every Greater Manchester school Ofsted report published in past two weeks

Here's a summary of the all the inspectors' 'report cards' of primary or secondary schools in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

A sanctuary of calm amid the madness - until Nigel Farage turned up

Amazing work is being done - but it's been overshadowed by by-election drama

Makerfield's Reform candidate quizzed on 'disgusting' Carol Vorderman comment and neo-fascist Facebook friend

Makerfield by-election 2026

The Haydock plumber Robert Kenyon pitched his ideas as MP in an interview on BBC Radio Manchester

People are starting to get miffed in Makerfield

Makerfield by-election 2026

Some are sick of the whole thing - and there's still two weeks to go until the by-election

Salford children's home slammed after youngster with suicidal thoughts left unsupervised near bridges

The children's home has been rated 'inadequate' for the first time after several 'good' results.

'No one wants to come here anymore. Swinton is a ghost town'

More than half the shopping precinct is dead. Is it too late to resurrect it?

A Salford ‘eyesore’ has been transformed to mark 100 years as a city

The new artwork could mark the beginning of a shift for the historic Old Police Station

These are the plans that could change the face of Greater Manchester this week

These are all the latest developments tabled with council across Greater Manchester recently

The FA-backed scheme helping youngsters stay out of trouble

Three new projects in Salford are supposed to help bring the community together - and give youngsters a safe space to do sports

It was rated 'good', but Salford taxpayers will foot £1.5m bill to bring care service in-house

Salford Council

Doubts have been raised after the council received a damning CQC report.

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